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2024 Disney World Planning Guide | How to Plan a Disney Vacation

By Author Ziggy Oskwarek

Posted on Last updated: January 13, 2024

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Planning a trip to Walt Disney World in 2024 or 2025? We know it’s stressful, but don’t worry, our Disney World Vacation Guide will give you everything you need to know to get ready for your upcoming trip!

Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse Partners Statue in front of Cinderella Castle at Disney's Magic Kingdom

Whether you are looking for information about the Disney World Parks, hotels, dining, transportation, the best rides, how to save money, or how to avoid the crowds, we have you covered in this guide. Think of it as Disney World Vacation Planning 101.

This guide is especially great for beginners who have never been to Disney World or go rarely, but we also pack in a lot of good tips for regular guests too.

While we do have some of the most important tips & info on this page, we don’t have ALL the answers directly written out here. This guide organizes some of the best Disney planning content into categories giving you an overview of what you are looking for and then links to more in-depth guides on each subject.

In this post we will specifically cover:

  • How to Plan a Disney World Vacation
  • What You Need to Know BEFORE Going
  • When to Visit Disney World in 2024
  • Important Disney Vocab
  • Where to Stay
  • Buying Tickets
  • Rides & Attractions
  • Dining & Restaurants
  • Disney Planning Timeline, & more…

How to Plan a Disney World Vacation

Since this guide covers a lot of the planning steps of your whole trip in general, if you are looking for specific info on the Disney World Parks , then check out the following links:

  • Magic Kingdom
  • Hollywood Studios
  • Animal Kingdom

Unfortunately, Disney World is one of the most complicated vacation destinations in the world. We know planning a Disney World vacation has become one of the most frustrating exercises and you’d just like to be there already having fun. Hopefully, we can help you do that as painlessly as possible.

We’ve been going to Walt Disney World multiple times per year since the early 1980s when we were babies, and we continue to spend way too much time there today trying all the new food, rides, events, and hotels. To say we are huge Disney fans would be an understatement.

The byproduct of countless hours spent visiting Disney World means that we have some valuable tips that we are eager to share with you. We aren’t going to lie, it will take some work on your end. But in the long run, it will be invaluable for your trip. Let’s get right into it…

Table of Contents

Changes in 2024 and 2025

Going to Walt Disney World in 2024 or 2025 is a MUCH different experience than it was just a couple years ago, and different again from even last year.

Disney's Polynesian Village Resort Lobby

Unless you’ve been hiding in a cave for the last few years, you know that the parks closed down in 2020, and when they reopened Disney installed many new procedures to let guests back to the parks.

Thankfully, for the most part, the Disney theme parks have gotten back to normal again, and the restrictions Disney put in have gone away one by one. The Walt Disney World vacation experience should be “close to normal” once again.

For example, Fireworks are back with nighttime spectaculars happening in the parks nightly.

Many stage shows like Festival of the Lion King, Beauty & the Beast Live on Stage, and Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular are back. There are still some missing, but the lineup of entertainment is heads and shoulders above where it was not too long ago. Not to mention, the overwhelming majority of attractions and restaurants have also returned.

Japan EPCOT fireworks

If it’s been a few years, there are a ton of new attractions you have to experience, EPCOT in particular has gone through a pretty big transformation and the construction walls are almost all down now. There are still a lot of additions Disney would like to finish at some point during 2024, including what’s left of the massive EPCOT overhaul project .

There are also new hotel projects on the way including the new DVC tower at Disney’s Polynesian Resort and the Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort .

This should be a great time to visit, but if you are worried about the changes, you may want to wait until the end of the year.

That’s what to expect this year, now let’s get into some of the Disney vacation planning basics.

How to Plan a Disney Vacation

Planning a trip to Disney World

Believe it or not, some of the most important planning steps of your Disney World trip happen as much as one year BEFORE your vacation starts, or even more.

Some things you are going to have to think about are:

  • What dates do I want to go? Are those dates flexible?
  • What is my budget?
  • What type of hotel do I want to stay in?
  • How many days do I want to go to the theme parks?

The most important suggestion we can give you is to get organized. The more work you do before your trip to plan everything out, the easier things will be for you and your family once you get there.

Can You Go to Disney World Without Planning?

As always in life, what you CAN do and what you SHOULD do are two entirely different things, and that is also true in this case.

Yes, it is physically possible to go to Disney World without planning your trip, but I would highly recommend against such an action. Organizing everything months ahead of time is a lot of work and a big pain, but it is vital if you want to have a successful trip.

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Magic Kingdom

Your choice of hotel will be severely limited if you don’t book it well in advance. You won’t be able to get dining reservations at the best restaurants in Disney World. You won’t know which attractions to reserve with Genie+. Right now, you can’t even get into the parks without a prior reservation.

If you are looking to go to a destination where you can just “wing it” and not have to make any plans ahead of time, we recommend choosing another destination besides Disney World.

How Do I Start Planning a Trip to Disney World?

STEP 1: Write down notes. There are going to be a lot of details, prices, and dates to remember so get a dedicated notebook for your upcoming trip. If you prefer, you can take notes on your phone or computer, but make sure you have a way of jotting down notes in a convenient place where you will be able to find them.

STEP 2: Set a Budget. Make no mistake about it, a trip to Walt Disney World is expensive and costs can add up very quickly. So before you start choosing how many days you want to stay, your hotel, and ticket types, make a budget. It will be much easier to organize your vacation if you already have an idea of how much you are willing to spend.

STEP 3: Get familiar with Disney World. Even if you are not ready to book your vacation yet, start reading up on Disney World and familiarize yourself with all the locations, attractions, restaurants, and special events. A website like this is one way to do that, but also look through the official Walt Disney World website and download the My Disney Experience app on your mobile device.

STEP 4: Choose your Dates. These don’t have to be written in stone, but we recommend at least having some idea of when you would like to plan your trip for. Later in this guide, we will show you how to decide on those dates.

Once you get these four things done, you are ready to start planning the details.

When Should I Start Planning My Disney Trip?

Tree of Life Animal Kingdom

When is the best time to start planning a Disney World vacation? We recommend to start planning as soon as possible , but at least one year before you plan to go.

The sooner you start planning your Disney vacation, the better. In fact, once you finish reading this guide, you should start writing ideas down for your trip.

As you will see in our vacation planning timeline, some of the first steps can be completed as many as 499 days before your vacation starts.

We believe the sooner you start the process of organizing your trip, the better. Starting now will give you a leg up on other guests when it comes to getting reservations for dining, hotel rooms, the parks, and any special events you want to attend+. I will also make you aware of discounts to save money on your trip.

What Do I Need to Know Before Going to Disney World?

Here are 9 main things to know about Disney World before going:

  • There are 4 Theme Parks in Disney World: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom
  • There are 2 Water Parks: Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon
  • 31 Resort Hotels to stay in.
  • There are countless Outdoor Activities to do such as swimming, fishing, golf, boating, and more.
  • WDW has 5 golf courses and 2 mini-golf courses .
  • Disney Springs is the nighttime entertainment hub with dozens of first-class restaurants and shops
  • You can catch a Dinner Show at the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue or dine at one of the many character meals .
  • It is a self-contained city with its own fire department, water treatment, waste disposal, and power generation.
  • Disney World is HUGE at 25,000 acres. That means travel time can be long between two places.

How Many Days do you Need for Disney World?

How to plan a Disney Vacation

There is really no wrong answer to how many days you need for a trip to Walt Disney World, and it depends on many factors, including if this is your first trip or not.

  • The ideal Disney World vacation is 7 days long . That allows for 2 travel days (arrival and departure), and 5 open days to visit the parks and have fun.
  • The bare minimum we recommend for first-timers is 5 days , ideally with an early arrival and late departure.

In fact, most Disney World vacations are between 4 to 7 days long. That gives you enough time to visit all the theme parks at least once, and have extra time for staying at the resort and swimming or shopping.

If you want to visit any other Orlando-based attractions like Universal Studios, for example, you can still do that in 6-7 days total.

It’s possible to visit Walt Disney World in only 3 or 4 days, but you will feel very rushed. You can make the highlights of each park, but you won’t really have time to do all the rides, see all the shows and take in the details.

Disney Trip Planning Guide

One thing to keep in mind is the longer your trip, the less you pay per day for your park tickets. So in a way, it’s advantageous to stay longer than only 5 days.

If you have the time and money , we recommend doing a 9 or 10-night stay and really taking the time to soak it all in. That gives you enough time to visit all 4 parks multiple times, and have days off to relax.

How Much Does a Trip to Disney World Cost?

Disney World Vacation Planning Guide

Let’s get to the bottom line…how much does a Disney World vacation really cost?

Everyone has different budgets, so the cost is going to depend on how many days you go, how many people are in your group, and how you like to vacation.

The major costs to consider for a Disney World vacation are:

  • Park Tickets
  • Souvenirs/Shopping

We’ve made our estimated costs based on a family of 4 on a 5-Night vacation to Walt Disney World in the Summer, with 4 days of theme park passes.

For a family of 4, a Walt Disney World vacation in 2024 costs: $5,895.26 , $7,378.61 , or $10,757.96 . These prices include the above expenses and are broken down our price estimates into 3 categories: Budget , Moderate , and Expensive .

  • For a family of 2 adults , the prices change to: $3,667.10, $4,684.80, and $7,323.00 .
  • For a family of 3, the prices change to: $4,689.19, $5,861.19, and $8,768.94 .
  • For a family of 5, the prices change to: $8,862.35, $10,005.00, and $12,203.90 .

Of course, there are many more factors to take into consideration, especially the time of year you visit. We calculated these prices based on a Summer vacation, but they can change by hundreds of dollars in either direction, so keep that in mind.

Read our post on the Average Cost to go to Disney World for more details and how to save money on your trip.

Should I Use a Disney Travel Agent?

2 bedroom suite Wilderness Lodge

One option you might want to consider is using an authorized Disney Vacation Planner when planning your trip. Even though there is a ton of great information on the internet to read, sometimes it’s just too much and you prefer having someone take care of the work for you.

The nice thing is most Disney travel agents don’t cost any extra money to work with. That means you can have someone personalize your trip for you and make the tough reservations, all for free. In fact, most of the time, using an agent will actually SAVE you money since they know when the discounts come out.

Using an authorized Disney vacation planner, your trip will be much better organized, less stressful, and save you money.

If you like the hands-off approach to trip planning, we highly recommend Rene Cittadino and her amazing team from Show You the World Travel. We’ve worked with Rene and her team of experts many times before and she is our Disney Travel Planner of choice.

  • Contact René at Show You the World Travel for all your trip planning needs, including a FREE quote.

List Your Priorities

There is way too much to do at Walt Disney World, no matter how long your trip is. That means you need to make a priority list of must-dos.

  • Is there a restaurant you absolutely must go to? Write it into the schedule.
  • What are the attractions you have to do at each park?
  • Which shows do you want to see?
  • Which characters?

When we are planning a trip to Disney World, we put all the must-dos in one column and then find a place for them in the program. We also have a secondary list of things we’d like to do if time allows, and we fill in the cracks with those.

When to Visit in 2024 or 2025?

Above all things, deciding when to visit Disney World is the most important decision you have to make when planning your trip.

Factors such as crowds, price, weather, and special events should all be taken into consideration when choosing your dates. Unfortunately for some, it’s not always up to us to decide. If you have children in school, you might be forced to only choose dates during the holidays or summer break, and those can be the worst times to visit.

Let’s look at some of the factors, meanwhile, our post on The Best Times to Visit Disney World goes into more depth.

When to visit Disney World

The crowds are probably our most important factor in deciding when to go to Disney World. Trust us, there is nothing worst than going to Disney World when the parks are their busiest.

Crowds at Disney World tend to follow the school calendar, which means holidays and the Summer are when they are at peak levels. If you can avoid going during those times you will be better off, but sometimes this is not possible, especially if you have to take your kids out of school.

Read our 2024 Disney World Crowd Calendar post to see which months are the busiest and least busy.

Whether in Orlando, Florida can be brutal for a good part of the year with scorching temperatures and unbearable humidity. Even though it’s known for sunshine, Disney World also gets tons of rain during some months.

The best weather for the parks tends to be from November to March when the climate is mild and there are few rainy days. You also need to know when there are Hurricanes at Walt Disney World and how to avoid them.

What is the Cheapest Time to Go to Disney World?

EPCOT Spaceship Earth lighting package

Going to Disney World is expensive, so planning a vacation for cheap can be a huge help to many guests. So what is the cheapest time to go?

Disney World offers the best rates and the biggest discounts during the off-season when kids are at school. Prices are the highest during the summer and during holidays. Things like ticket prices, airfare, and hotel rooms are all more expensive during those times.

If saving money is important to you, try booking your trip in January, February, or September.

Read our post on the Cheapest times to go to Disney World for more info and tips for guests on a budget.

Special Events

Disney World Special Events

Disney can throw quite the party, and many people come to Disney World specifically for the yearly special events put on. Depending on your needs, you might want to come during one of the events or avoid them altogether.

Here are some of the biggest special events to make note of in 2024:

  • Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend (January 3-7, 2024)
  • EPCOT International Festival of the Arts (January 12- February 19, 2024)
  • EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival (February 28 – Early July, 2024)
  • EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival (Mid-July – Mid-November, 2024)
  • Walt Disney World 100th Year Celebration (Most of 2024)
  • Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (Select nights from Mid-August – October 31, 2024)
  • Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (Select nights November and December 2024)
  • EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays (Late November – December 30th, 2024)

Park Pass Reservations

Right now in 2024, Park Pass Reservations are no longer required for most ticket types (there are some exceptions for Annual Passholders and other special tickets) , and for the most part you no longer have to worry about park capacity.

If your ticket type does require Park Pass Reservations, make sure there are open dates for the parks you want before booking your trip, then once you buy your tickets, make your park pass reservations so you are sure to get in.

However, the good news is that park reservations are no longer required for the majority of ticket holders starting January 9, 2024.

We explain it all in our post on how to make Disney Park Pass reservations .

New Attractions

If you love attractions, then you might want to plan your trip around some of the new rides that are opening up. This is especially true if you’ve been to Disney World many times before and want to hold out until something else is new.

Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind Concept Art Xandar Gallery

Here are the biggest new attractions opening in 2024:

  • Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
  • Test Track 3.0
  • New Country Bear Jamboree Show
  • (Opened on April 4th in Magic Kingdom)

We have been spoiled with a lot of new attractions over the past few years.

EPCOT has been a big focus of recent additions with our favorite being Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind which opened on May 27, 2022, and it has immediately become the most popular ride in EPCOT and a must-do on your visit.

Other new EPCOT attractions include Moana: Journey of Water , Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure , Space 220 Restaurant , and the new Luminous The Symphony of US Fireworks Show .

The TRON: Lightcycle Run Roller Coaster similarly has been a smashing success at Magic Kingdom when it opened on April 2nd of 2023.

Those are just a taste of what’s coming next. Read our guide on New Rides Coming to Disney World which will help you decide when to plan your trip.

Disney World coming attractions

What Month is the Best to Go to Disney World?

In general, we find that January and September are the best months to visit Disney World .

Both are incredibly quiet times of the year. January has nicer park weather for long days in the park. September can be wonderfully quiet if you can endure 90-degree days.

For a variety of reasons, we feel that September and May will also be great months at Disney World in 2024. Read our post on Disney World – Month by Month Rankings for a comparison of each one.

Wait Until 2025?

Unlike in 2020-2022 years, most of the health restrictions have now been removed from the Disney parks, making it much more like a normal visit. In our opinion, most guests don’t have reason to be fearful like at the beginning of the reopening.

If you have been waiting for a couple of years to visit, 2024 and 2025 may be the perfect opportunity for your perfect Disney World vacation with all that is coming down the pipeline.

Our article “Should you visit Disney World in 2024?” can help make the case for each year and includes the positives and negatives for both.

Limited Experiences & Closures

Animal Kingdom Crowds

Some of the normal experiences guests are used to at Disney World are not running right now. Since a Disney World vacation is not cheap, this can be a huge factor in deciding whether it’s worth the cost at this time.

Some of the things missing are:

  • Some Stage Shows
  • Fewer Street Entertainers
  • Fewer Characters in the parks

This is another problem brought on by the fact that Disney is not able to find enough cast members to fill the roles required for all the positions in the parks. That’s why we still have limited entertainment options compared to a few years ago.

Thankfully, we have seen the return of fireworks to the parks on a nightly basis and dessert parties to go along with them. Character meets are open again, and at least you can get hugs and autographs from them too!

We are also excited to know that more special events are running again in 2024 with the Disney After Hours Events in full swing. On top of that, the Disney Dining Plan is made its long-awaited return on January 9th, 2024! Guests can begin booking it for trips on that date and after.

ABC Commissary cash registers

At least park hours are pretty much back to normal once again so you can expect to stay in the parks like before.

Important Disney World Vocab

Genie+, PhotoPass, ADRs, MDE, EMH…anyone else confused yet?? In fact, before you start planning your Disney vacation, there are some basic vocabulary terms you need to learn.

Below we’ve listed the most Disney important terms you will see while planning your trip:

My Disney Experience

Everything starts with My Disney Experience when planning a Disney World vacation. Also known as MDE, this is Disney World’s app that handles dining reservations, Genie+, mobile ordering, park maps, resort stay information, itineraries, PhotosPass pictures, and much, much more.

My Disney Experience is accessible through the website or the mobile app on your phone. Get familiar with it, because it’s a necessary tool to use before and during your vacation.

Carnival scene in Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway

As you may have heard, FastPass+ has been retired and replaced by the new Disney Genie service . Disney Genie is a day-planning app in My Disney Experience that includes two paid ride reservation systems, Genie+ and Lightning Lane selections.

They allow guests to reserve access to the most popular theme park attractions, essentially skipping the lines and saving you time along the way.

Genie+ is not free like its predecessor was and instead costs between $15 and $39 per day, per guest. With that fee, guests can make reservations for attractions they want to ride throughout the day in a specific time slot like FastPass+. They then come back when that time slot arrives.

Reservations are limited to one at a time, so you can’t have 3 all at once like before. Once a two-hour window passes from making your first reservation, you can then make a reservation for the next attraction.

A few of the most popular attractions instead use Individual Lightning Lane selections. These let you skip the line for a one-time fee between $10-$25 depending on the ride. Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane selections are two different pay-to-ride services and guests can use one without the other if they choose.

If you choose not to use either of these services, you will just wait in a standby queue to ride the attraction like normal.

  • READ: We cover everything you need to know about Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes in our guide which is essential reading before deciding how to tour the parks each day. I also recommend reading our post “ Is Genie+ Really Worth the Cost? ” which helps you to know if you should spend the extra money.

Early Theme Park Entry

Early Theme Park Entry allows Disney World Resort hotel guests to have access to the theme parks in the morning before the general public . This is one of the biggest benefits of staying at a Disney World Resort hotel with guests experiencing fewer crowds in the parks.

It works in a similar way as Extra Magic Hours did only that Early Theme Park Entry runs every day of the week and lets guests in 30 minutes before the parks open. It’s unclear if EMH will ever return or if Early Theme Park Entry is here to stay long-term.

One thing is clear, you get a big advantage showing up early and it can really help you get the more popular rides in each park done before the crowds arrive.

MagicBand+ front band

MagicBands are an all-in-one mobile connectivity device disguised as colorful bracelets. These devices connect with My Disney Experience and can be used by guests to buy food or merchandise, unlock hotel room doors, redeem Genie+ selections at rides, and use them as theme park tickets.

In 2024, MagicBands are no longer free to guests but can be purchased for a small fee online or in the parks. The future of MagicBands and replacement technology is much more clear now that Disney finally launched MagicBand+ a couple of years ago.

Park Hopping

Park hopping is Disney’s system for allowing guests to visit multiple theme parks on the same day. It is an add-on feature to your Disney World theme park admission and is an extra cost. Whether or not it’s worth it to you depends on if you prefer hopping around to multiple parks per day or doing one park per day more thoroughly.

Park Hopping is alive and well in 2024 after being unavailable for a while after the parks reopened. Read our post on Disney World Park Hopping to see what changes there are to the system now.

ADRs is an abbreviation for Advanced Dining Reservations and it is how you reserve a table at Disney World restaurants. Dining reservations are a MUST to get into the more popular restaurants, especially for character meals, theme park restaurants, and the more elegant dining experiences.

EPCOT Le Cellier dining room

If you are staying at one of the Disney World Resort hotels , ADRs can be made 60 days in advance of your check-in date, and reservations can be made for up to 10 days past the check-in date, for a total of 60+10. If you are staying off-site, you are at a disadvantage because you can only make reservations 60 days in advance of the dining date.

Read our Disney World Dining Reservations Guide for more details and tips on getting into the restaurants you want.

PhotoPass & Memory Maker

PhotoPass is Disney’s photography service offered at the Walt Disney World Resort . Professional photographers (and machines) are stationed throughout the parks and are available to take pictures of you and your family as a memory to take back home with you.

PhotoPass with Tigger at 1900 Park Fare

These photographers are set up in the most scenic areas, with many of Disney World’s famous icons in the pictures with you like Cinderella Castle, Spaceship Earth, etc. These photos are connected to your My Disney Experience account and can be downloaded or printed at a later time.

Many of the photographs include MagicShots, which are photos with a little bit of extra Disney magic in them, often including the characters and funny poses. On-ride photos are also available on many of the attractions and also can be downloaded.

In order to get these photos, you will need to purchase the Memory Maker package for your trip. It is an additional cost of $210 + tax (or $185 + tax if you purchase it at least 3 days in advance) but gives you unlimited photo opportunities for your whole travel party during your entire vacation.

You also have the opportunity to purchase Memory Maker for only one day, and that costs $75.

Disney photographers will also take photos of you and your family with your own phones if you ask, so don’t be afraid. This service is free of charge.

Where to Stay?

Where to stay Disney Vacation Planning Guide

The next step in booking your Walt Disney World vacation is figuring out where you want to stay.

Some of the factors to consider when deciding where to stay are:

  • Staying On-Site or Off-Site
  • Accommodation Type
  • Location and Convenience
  • Hotel Amenities
  • Airport Transportation
  • Extra Perks

Some of these will be important to you while others not so much. Base your decision on the accommodations that check off the most boxes for you and your family.

The first step in this process is deciding if you want to stay at a Disney World Resort hotel (on-site) or outside of the resort property (off-site).

Disney World Resort Hotels

Staying On-Site Benefits

  • Location – Resorts are located near the Disney theme parks which means less travel time each day. You can also go back to your hotel for a nap in the afternoon before heading out once again later.
  • Genie+ – Staying at a WDW resort hotel means you can make your Individual Lightning Lane reservations at 7:00 am, before guests who are staying off-site.
  • Early Theme Park Entry – You will have extra time in the parks in the morning before the general public arrives.
  • Transportation – Disney includes free transportation to and from the theme parks, Disney Springs, and other hotels. Free airport shuttle service is no longer provided through Disney’s Magical Express , and you’ll have to take care of getting from Orlando Airport to Disney World on your own. Options include the Mears Connect Shuttle , taxi, or a ride-sharing service like Uber or Lyft.
  • Theming – Most Disney World hotels have unique theming that you and your kids will love.
  • The Disney Bubble – There is something magical about stepping into Walt Disney World at the beginning of your vacation and then not stepping out until the end. You feel tucked away inside this magical world that you never want to leave.

Disney's Wilderness Lodge Planning Guide

Staying Off-Site

Benefits of Staying Off-Site:

  • Lower Cost – This is the biggest benefit, one that could make a huge difference in your decision. Compared to each other, non-Disney hotels cost significantly less than Disney hotels of the same hotel class (value vs. value, deluxe vs. deluxe). You could save between 30-50% on hotel costs by staying off-site.
  • Transportation – Some of the off-site hotels have a free transportation service between the airport and the hotel so make sure to ask for your options.
  • Genie+ – While you don’t have the advantage with the Individual Lightning Lane selections, making Genie+ reservations is the same for guests staying on-site or off-site.
  • Better if Visiting Other Orlando Destinations – If going to Orlando, Sea World or other destinations, a more central location outside Disney World is nice.
  • More Luxurious – Some of the hotels available in the Orlando area like the Four Seasons Orlando or Ritz-Carlton Orlando, are true luxury hotels, and offer more amenities than the Disney World Resorts.

On-Site vs Off-Site

If you are looking for the easiest, most convenient choice and money is not your number one deciding factor, we recommend staying at a Disney World Resort hotel . The only real negative is the cost, and most of the time the benefits outweigh that, but it will depend on your priorities and budget.

We recommend exploring both options and weighing the cost vs value for you and your family. If you are only going for 4-5 days though, we think staying at a Disney hotel is the smart play since time is of the essence. If you have a longer stay (7 days or more), you might find more value in staying off-site.

Our On-Site vs. Off-Site Disney World Hotels Comparison will help you decide if the benefits are worth the extra cost.

Disney Hotel Types

Disney World Boardwalk at sunset

There are 4 tiers of Walt Disney World Resort hotels and they are organized by cost:

  • Value Resorts
  • Moderate Resorts
  • Deluxe Resorts
  • Deluxe Villas

Value Resorts are the cheapest of the hotel types and can be booked anywhere from $130 to $415 per night depending on the season. They have the fewest amenities, the smallest rooms, the cheapest theming, the worst dining options, and the transportation is the slowest.

Moderate Resorts are a step up from value, but not nearly as nice as the Deluxe resorts. The rooms are bigger than value rooms, and the dining is much better at most of them. Prices range from $260 to $505 per night.

Deluxe Resorts are our favorite hotels in Disney World and for good reason. Most of the rooms are large and can fit more than 4 people. The best dining locations are located here with some world-class restaurants. The pools are the best and the locations and transportation options can’t be beaten such as the monorail, Disney Skyliner, and most are within walking distance of the parks.

Of course, expect to pay for this upgrade and prices can vary between $490 to $1350 per night depending on where and when you stay.

Deluxe Villas are Disney Vacation Club properties located at the Deluxe Resorts. Some guests own timeshare points they can spend at these resorts, while other rent points from members. This is the cheapest way to stay at one of the deluxe resorts without breaking the bank and a strategy we highly recommend.

We recommend reading our Guide to the Best Disney World Resorts where we rank them all from best to worst and share the pros and cons of each resort.

Vacation Packages 

Disney World Vacation Packages are your hotel room + theme park tickets in the same bundle. These can be a mixed bag. Sometimes they can be a great value and offer deep discounts on room rates or even include discounts on food like the Disney Free Dining package included.

Most of the time we find you can save more money by getting a hotel room-only discount and buying tickets separately. You should do your due diligence and compare prices between the two options. Disney World Vacation Packages can be booked at www.DisneyWorld.com

Again, we highly recommend you use an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner as they will always be able to find the deepest discounts for you and save the most money.

Disney Resort Hotel Planning Guide

Airbnb and Nearby Hotels

Instead of staying at a hotel, if you are really trying to save money on your trip , then consider staying at one of the many third-party hotels or an Airbnb near Disney World.

If you aren’t familiar with how Airbnb works, it is a service that rents out peoples’ residences to travelers like a hotel room.

The Airbnbs in Orlando include vacation homes, apartments, and condos. Besides the lower cost, guests have more privacy and space in a private residence than at a hotel. There is also usually a full kitchen so you can prepare your meals and save even more money.

Another cheaper alternative is staying at one of the nearby off-site hotels, or a hotel located on Disney property, but not run by the mouse. This can save you a lot of money, just make sure you are aware of the extra costs that could be involved.

The biggest downside for off-site hotels, Airbnb, or vacation homes is the distance from the parks and not being able to use Disney transportation. You will either have to rent a car or use a ride-sharing service like Uber to get around, and that can be inconvenient. If you already will be using a car, then consider this a great alternative.

Read our Complete Disney World Resort Hotels List for a look at all the Disney and Non-Disney hotel options in the area and what to expect.

Park tickets can be the most expensive part of a trip to Walt Disney World, even more than dining and your hotel. That’s why it’s important to do your research beforehand and know how to save money when buying them.

You also need to decide exactly how many days you want to spend in the parks so you don’t end up paying for more days than necessary.

Disney Vacation Planning Guide Tickets

Where to Buy Tickets

Options for buying Disney World Tickets include:

  • Directly from Disney
  • Authorized Ticket Reseller
  • Travel Agent

Getting your tickets from Disney on the official Disney World website is your first option. It’s almost always more expensive, however, and it pays to look elsewhere.

To save money on your park tickets, we recommend using one of the authorized resellers online such as Get Away Today or Undercover Tourist . They are legit resellers so you don’t have to worry about being ripped off like other places online.

If you really want to save money, we highly recommend Orlando Va cation which often has the best prices for any of the Disney World ticket resellers.

Depending on what type of ticket you are buying, these options can save you as much as $50-$70 per ticket! That’s a huge savings, especially if you have a big family. Once you buy your Disney World park tickets, they can be linked to your My Disney Experience with a code.

In our Discount Disney World Tickets Guide , we cover the best places to buy tickets from and how to get the absolute cheapest tickets possible.

Ticket Types

50th Anniversary Disney World Annual Pass

There are three basic types of Disney World theme park tickets: Standard tickets, Park Hopper tickets, or Annual Passes . Both standard and park hopper tickets can be purchased as single-day tickets or multi-day.

Standard Tickets – This is the cheapest ticket type. They allow you admission to one theme park per day for the number of days you purchased. You can visit the same park for multiple days if you choose.

Park Hopper Tickets – This option allows you to visit multiple parks per day for the entire amount of days you purchased. Technically you can visit all 4 parks in one day if you like. There is a Water Park version too. They are more expensive but allow for greater flexibility.

Annual Passes – There are multiple versions with different restrictions but the higher-end options give you unlimited access to the parks letting you visit whenever you want. If you live close to WDW or are planning on visiting multiple times in a one-year period, an annual pass could be a good investment.

Here are some links that explain about all the various ticket types, differences, pros and cons, prices, and their unique features:

  • Disney World Tickets Complete Guide
  • 1-Day Disney World Tickets
  • Disney World Annual Pass Guide
  • Florida Resident Disney World Tickets

Planning a trip to Disney

Disney World park tickets are priced on a date and length-based system. That means the prices will fluctuate greatly depending on when you go.

For example, in 2024, a 1-Day standard park ticket starts at $109 per day and goes all the way up to $189 per day (plus tax) . That’s a huge difference and you can get a lot of savings by going in the off-season.

Another important factor is that tickets cost less per day the more days you have on your ticket. In fact, Disney’s motto is: “the longer you play, the less you pay per day.” Once you get higher than a 3-day ticket, the price per day drops dramatically.

To find out the latest prices and how much they’ve increased this year, read our Disney Tickets Prices Guide .

When to Buy Tickets

There are multiple reasons to buy your Disney World park tickets as soon as possible . One reason is you can’t make Park pass reservations without them. That is important because the longer you wait the less likely you will get into the park of your choice when you want.

Disney tickets never become less expensive, so buying early also locks in your price before the next price increase comes.

Buy your tickets whenever your budget allows, just never wait until you get to the gate or you will pay more.

How to Travel to Walt Disney World

Now that you have your hotel and tickets all set, you need to decide how to get to Walt Disney World. This will depend on how far away you live and what your plans are when you get to Orlando.

Walt Disney World entrance road sign makeover

Drive or Fly ?

These are the two most popular options for getting to Disney World and depend mostly on where you live.

Drive – If you are within a few hours of Walt Disney World, your best option might be to drive. You also might decide to drive if you are live close enough nearby, or if you are staying off-site and will be visiting other destinations outside of Disney World.

One thing to keep in mind is that many Orlando hotels charge parking fees for each night of your stay, and that will cost you an extra $20-$30 per night. These can be avoided if staying at one of the WDW Resorts.

Fly – For most guests, an airplane is the most convenient way to get to Disney World. The Orlando International Airport is the best choice and is located only 30 minutes from WDW. There are multiple flights per day arriving from most cities in the United States and Internationally.

Airfare is also not expensive and good discount flights can be found online with many between $150-$250.

Booking Airfare

We recommend setting your dates and to start looking for airfare 1 year before your vacation. That will give you the best chance to score a deal.

If you are booking airfare yourself, we usually find the best prices on ITA Software by Google , AirfareWatchdog , or Skyscanner . You can set up price alerts and they give a flexible dates option to find the best price.

Transportation to and from Airport

Inside Disney's Magical Express

The Orlando International Airport is located approximately 20 miles from Walt Disney World, which means you will need transportation to get to your hotel.

The popular & free Disney’s Magical Express transportation was discontinued in 2022 so now in 2023, you’ll need another option to get from the airport to your resort hotel, which means you need to pay out of pocket.

One solution when staying at Walt Disney World is the Mears Connect Shuttle , the most similar replacement for the Magical Express.

Other options no matter where you are staying include taxi service or ride-sharing such as Uber or Lyft .

  • Taxis are by far the more expensive choice and will cost around $50-$60 each way plus tip depending on where you are going.
  • Uber is a much cheaper option and will cost between $30-$40 each way.

Allow sufficient time to get to your hotel from the airport. If you have a 10:00 am arrival you can expect to get to your hotel by around 11:30 am if taking a cab or Uber. It will be longer on one of the bus services and in that case you will probably arrive between 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm.

Read “ How to Get from Orlando Airport to Disney World ” for the full breakdown of all your options and how to save money with transportation.

Attractions and Rides

Rise of the Resistance ride vehicles in motion

Most people come to Walt Disney World for the attractions, and you want to plan them out as best as possible in order to do all the ones most important to you.

Pay special attention to this section if this is your first time or you haven’t been to Disney World in a few years as there are many new attractions to experience. Make sure to check the Disney World Ride Closures List to see which rides will be open during your trip.

If you are going to EPCOT, make sure to read our post on How to Get a Boarding Pass for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind , and How to Get a Boarding Pass for TRON: Lightcycle Run over at the Magic Kingdom. These are two of the hardest attractions to ride in Disney World at this time.

You’ll definitely want to experience Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance , and right now you’ll need to use the standby queue to ride. You can also read How to Get a Boarding Group for Rise of the Resistance for the times it uses the virtual queue system.

For a detailed look at all of the attractions, be sure to check out our other Disney World Ride Guides:

  • Best Rides in Disney World Ranked
  • Magic Kingdom Rides and Attractions Guide
  • EPCOT Rides and Attractions Guide
  • Hollywood Studios Rides and Attractions Guide
  • Animal Kingdom Rides and Attractions Guide
  • Best Rides for Toddlers at Disney World

Pick Your Park Days

In front of Chinese Theater at Hollywood Studios

First, you need to pick how many days you need for each park and how many park days total. Depending on your interests, some parks you can get done in half a day, and some will take you multiple days.

If it’s your first time we recommend 1 full day for each park, and an extra half-day or more for the Magic Kingdom since it has the most attractions.

  • Magic Kingdom – The best park for small kids and has the most rides.
  • EPCOT – Best park for foodies, festivals, and culture.
  • Hollywood Studios – Best park for teens and thrill-seekers.
  • Animal Kingdom – Best park for animal and nature lovers and a good selection of rides and food.

The highlights of EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom can all be done in 3 half-days, but we recommend spending at least a day in each to soak up the atmosphere and not feel rushed.

Must-Do Rides

There are some truly special ride experiences at Disney World and each park has a number of Must-Do attractions you won’t want to miss. Here are some of the best ones:

Magic Kingdom – TRON: Lightcycle Run , Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, Peter Pan’s Flight, The Haunted Mansion, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, Jungle Cruise

EPCOT – Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind , Soarin’ Around the World, Test Track, Frozen Ever After, Spaceship Earth, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

Hollywood Studios – Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance , Tower of Terror, Slinky Dog Dash, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway , Toy Story Mania!, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Star Tours: The Adventures Continue

Animal Kingdom – Avatar: Flight of Passage, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Expedition Everest, Dinosaur, Na’vi River Journey

Must-Do rides Disney Vacation Planning Guide

Those are by far the most popular attractions in each park and the ones that should be at the top of your list. That is a great starting point for any park itinerary.

Make sure to leave enough time to fully explore all the details in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Pandora: The World of Avatar , two of the most immersive lands we’ve ever seen!

Characters are a huge draw for guests when visiting the parks, especially kids. Character meets can be found in all 4 theme parks and include favorites such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Princesses, and characters from the Pixar films.

Character meets were suspended temporarily for two years, but they returned in 2022, and you can hug the characters and get their autographs now just like normal! You can also see them in the new Character Cavalcades that go through the parks at various times of the day.

Entertainment

Epcot's Disney Harmonious

Besides rides, Disney World also offers first-class entertainment with amazing stage shows and nighttime spectaculars. Here is a list of the ones you shouldn’t miss and where to find them:

Fireworks/Nighttime Spectaculars – Happily Ever After (MK), Luminous the Symphony of US (EPCOT), Fantasmic! (HS), Tree of Life Awakenings (AK).

Stage Shows/Street Shows – Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire (MK), Dapper Dans (MK), Jeweled Dragon Acrobats (EPCOT), Voices of Liberty (EPCOT), Serveur Amusant (EPCOT), A Frozen Sing-Along (HS), Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage (HS), Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular (HS), Festival of the Lion King (AK), Finding Nemo – The Musical (AK)

Parades – Character Cavalcades (All Parks), Festival of Fantasy Parade (MK)

Most of these entertainment options are now back in 2024, and we are hopeful more will come back later this year.

High Priority Genie+ and Lightning Selections

FastPass+ has been retired and Disney has shifted to its paid replacement Genie+. However, not all Genie+ or Lightning Lane reservations are equal, and there are some attractions where it’s much more advantageous to use them.

Disney Vacation Planning Guide high priority FastPass+

After all, you are limited to one Genie+ reservation at a time for the most part, so you need to choose wisely.

You should use Genie+ selections on higher-profile attractions that always draw long wait times like Peter Pan’s Flight or Test Track. Using a Genie+ on Alien Swirling Saucers at Hollywood Studios for example would be a waste.

Here is our list of High-Priority Genie+ attractions:

  • Peter Pan’s Flight (Magic Kingdom)
  • Jungle Cruise (Magic Kingdom)
  • Test Track (EPCOT)
  • Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (EPCOT)
  • Frozen Ever After (EPCOT)
  • Na’vi River Journey (Animal Kingdom)
  • Slinky Dog Dash (Hollywood Studios)
  • Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run (Hollywood Studios)
  • Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway (Hollywood Studios)
  • Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster (Hollywood Studios)
  • Tower of Terror (Hollywood Studios)

Not all the Individual Lightning Lane selections are worth the money either as some don’t usually have long enough wait times.

Here is our list of rides we would spend an Individual Lightning Lane selection on if the circumstances were right:

  • Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (Hollywood Studios)
  • TRON: Lightcycle Run (Magic Kingdom)
  • Avatar: Flight of Passage (Animal Kingdom)
  • Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (EPCOT)

Here are some other posts about Genie+ and Lightning Lanes that you should read before planning your trip:

  • Ultimate Genie+ & Lightning Lane Guide
  • Is Genie+ Worth It?
  • How to Purchase Genie+ at Disney World
  • How to Purchase Individual Lightning Lanes

For some, dining is their favorite experience when visiting Walt Disney World, and there is an unlimited number of choices available for every palate. In fact, there are over 400 restaurants at Walt Disney World, with varying menus and themes to choose from.

Disney Vacation Planning Tips

Some restaurants are table service where you sit down and a waiter serves you and some are quick service/counter service which is more like fast food.

Among the decisions you have to make are where to eat, when to book reservations, and whether or not to use the Disney Dining Plan or not.

Choosing Restaurants

The first decision to make about dining in Disney World is which restaurants you want to go to.

It can be hard to make a decision, especially if you haven’t been to any of them before. We suggest reading through the menus on the Disney World website to see what stands out to you and reading some of our Disney Restaurant Reviews for more info.

Character dining and buffets are options to consider, and some restaurants are more kid-friendly than others.

Here are some of our rankings of the top places to eat at Walt Disney World:

  • Best Walt Disney World Restaurants
  • Best Restaurants at Disney’s Magic Kingdom
  • Best Restaurants at EPCOT
  • Best Restaurants at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
  • Best Restaurants at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
  • Best Restaurants at Disney Springs
  • Best Disney World Resort Hotel Restaurants

Making Reservations

Once you’ve picked out your restaurants, it’s time to make reservations. They can be made using the My Disney Experience app on your mobile device or on your computer on the Disn e y World website.

Advance Dining Reservations can be made 60 days before your check-in date for the length of your vacation (Previously 180 days) . We highly recommend making them as soon as possible as the most popular restaurants fill up months ahead of time.

Read our Disney Advance Dining Reservations guide for more tips on how to book the restaurants you want and the highest priority restaurants.

High Priority Restaurants

Storybook Dining at Artist Point with Snow White

Here is a list of the hardest-to-book restaurants in Disney World and ones that should be booked right at the 60-day deadline:

  • Be Our Guest (Magic Kingdom)
  • Chef Mickey’s (Disney’s Contemporary Resort)
  • Cinderella’s Royal Table (Magic Kingdom)
  • Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue (Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort)
  • Le Cellier (EPCOT)
  • Oga’s Cantina (Hollywood Studios)
  • ‘Ohana (Disney’s Polynesian Resort)
  • Space 220 (EPCOT)
  • Storybook Dining at Artist Point with Snow White (Disney’s Wilderness Lodge)
  • Victoria & Albert’s (Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort)

There are other hard-to-get ones like Via Napoli and California Grill, but the above ones are by far the hardest.

Our Favorite WDW Restaurants

Our favorite WDW Restaurants for First-Timers are:

  • 50’s Prime Time Cafe (Hollywood Studios)
  • California Grill (Disney’s Contemporary Resort)
  • Hollywood Brown Derby (Hollywood Studios)
  • Liberty Tree Tavern (Magic Kingdom)
  • Morimoto Asia (Disney Springs)
  • Pecos Bill Tall Tale Cafe and Inn (Magic Kingdom)
  • Satu’li Canteen (Animal Kingdom)
  • The Boathouse (Disney Springs)
  • Tusker House (Animal Kingdom)

That list has something for everyone no matter your budget or tastes.

Disney Dining Plan

The Disney Dining Plan returned to Walt Disney World on January 9th, 2024 ! For all the news on the new dining plan, check out my post here .

Even though we aren’t fans of the Disney Dining Plan, many guests love to use it and it’s something you need to understand to make an educated decision on how you want to pay for your meals.

Three Dole Whips at Magic Kingdom

The Dining Plan lets guests pay for their meals before their vacation starts giving each person in the group a number of credits they can spend on meals each day. This makes it very convenient since you don’t have to pay for food “out-of-pocket” during your trip, and your budget is already set.

There are 4 levels of the Disney Dining Plan, (Quick Service, Standard, Plus, and Deluxe) each with different prices and tailored to how much you plan on eating during your trip.

In general, we don’t recommend the Disney Dining Plan because it is a bit too expensive. In order to make it worth it, you need to do a lot of research ahead of time, and pick the “right” restaurants and the most expensive items on the menu. Most people don’t end up using all their credits, essentially paying for food they never eat.

Disney World Transportation

Disney Vacation Planning Guide Transportation

Next, it’s important to know how to get around Walt Disney World once you arrive. With almost 500 buses, dozens of watercraft, a monorail, and a gondola system, Disney World has a larger public transportation system than many American cities.

Should You Rent a Car?

Renting a car at Disney World has its positives and negatives and is a big decision you need to make. It comes down to if you are going to visit other places outside of Walt Disney World or stay on property the entire time.

If you are going to spend the entire vacation at Walt Disney World, there is absolutely no need to rent a car. Disney’s public transportation is more than sufficient for your needs.

If you are just going to spend one day in another Orlando destination like Universal Studios, you don’t need a car and you will save money by catching an Uber or a taxi to your destination.

The best reason for renting a car is if you plan on spending multiple days outside Disney World. Just know that parking fees at the theme parks can add up if you aren’t staying at a Disney World Resort, so expect to spend an additional$25 per day on top of rental car fees.

Just remember, if you have a car, in some cases, you will need to pay parking fees either at the hotels or theme parks which is an extra expense on top of the cost of the car itself. Sometimes both. We explain it all in our Guide to Parking at Disney World .

Disney Vacation Planning Guide buses

The most common form of transportation at Walt Disney World, and also the worst. No matter where you are staying, you will eventually have to use a Disney bus at some point in your trip to get to at least one of the theme parks.

They can each hold 100+ guests so they can get very packed and uncomfortable. Buses also tend to be the slowest way of getting around at Disney World, so if there is an alternative to where you are going, take it.

If you do end up taking the bus, make sure to show up 20-30 minutes before the time you want to leave as they are notoriously late.

Disney World Monorail pulling into the station

When Disney World’s monorail system debuted back in 1971 it was an instant hit with guests and become the most popular mode of transportation.

The monorail has 3 lines loops. 2 of them (Resort and Express) go around the Seven Seas Lagoon and connect the Magic Kingdom with the nearby hotels at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, and Disney’s Polynesian Resort, and the Ticket and Transportation Center.

The third line connects EPCOT to Magic Kingdom lines allowing access to the surrounding resorts.

We love the Monorail and it’s still a great time riding from resort to resort, but they are outdated and in great need of refurbishment. The trains haven’t been replaced since 1989 so it’s beyond time for a new system.

This is the newest transportation mode at Disney World and our current favorite. Reminiscent of the old Skyway buckets from the Magic Kingdom, this gondola system brings guests between Disney parks and resorts with a wonderful bird’s-eye view.

Disney Skyliner Stops – EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.

Disney Skyliner at sunset

Read our Full Guide to the Disney Skyliner for more tips, maps, and everything else you need to know.

Disney World has a fleet of watercraft that 3 of the theme parks with various surrounding resort hotels. It’s a fantastic way to get to the parks, and to relax with great views on the way.

  • Parks with Watercraft Service – Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios.
  • Resorts with Watercraft Service – Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort (and Bay Lake), Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Resort, Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resorts, Disney’s Port Orleans – French Quarter, Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside, Disney’s Old Key West Resort and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort (Treehouse Villas).

Expect to wait 20-30 minutes between boat arrivals.

Ride Sharing (Uber/Lyft)

Sometimes you just don’t have time to wait for Disney transportation and you need to get to your destination fast. A ride-sharing service like Uber or Lyft is perfect at Disney World in that situation.

Ride-sharing such as Uber will bring you anywhere you want in Walt Disney World. The only place they can’t go is to the front entrance at the Magic Kingdom. Instead, they drop guests off at the Ticket and Transportation Center.

Disney doesn’t offer hotel to hotel bus service, so we often use Uber to get from our hotel to another one where we have a dinner reservation. This is a big-time saver instead of taking a bus to Disney Springs or a Park and then over to the second hotel.

Minnie Vans

Minnie Vans are Disney’s attempt to counter the popularity of ride-sharing services over the last few years. They are now back at Walt Disney World after being discontinued for 2 years.

They were run through the Lyft app and would bring you anywhere on property for a fee. Cars were painted red and black with white polka dots to resemble Minnie Mouse’s patented dress. They were much faster than Disney buses, but in the end, 2-3x more expensive than an Uber and not worth the high cost.

Getting from Park to Park

If you are park hopping you will want to go from one park to the other in the same day. Thankfully, Disney offers park-to-park transportation for resort hotel guests.

Traveling between Disney World parks

You can take the monorail between the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. If you want to go between the Magic Kingdom and any other park, you will need to take the bus. Right now they run from 2:00 pm daily between parks.

Hollywood Studios and EPCOT have multiple transportation methods between them with boats, walking, and the Disney Skyliner all options.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the most difficult park to get to from another park and can only be reached by bus.

Other Stuff to Do

Most guests only come to Walt Disney World in mind, not realizing there is a whole world of other activities and entertainment to enjoy. There are water parks, boating, fishing golf, spa treatments, shopping to enjoy. You can even take a private tour or get a ticket to a special event.

Disney Vacation Planning Guide other things to do

You can celebrate a special moment in your life like an engagement or anniversary. Believe it or not, there are even a bunch of free things to do on your trip! There is something for the whole family.

Let’s take a look at some of the other things to do at Disney World.

Water Parks

Disney World has 2 water parks: Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. To go, you need to purchase the water parks add-on to your regular theme park admission or buy a single-day ticket.

  • Typhoon Lagoon has 7 water slide rides, one kiddie slide, one kiddie play area, one lazy river, one wave pool, and one small exploration trail. More family-friendly.
  • Blizzard Beach has seven water slide rides, one kiddie play area, one lazy river, one wave pool, and a chairlift. More thrilling water slides.

Both water parks are fun, but if we are going to spend one day at a water park, we choose Typhoon Lagoon every time. The overall theming of the park is amazing, and the lazy river and wave pool are much better than at Blizzard Beach.

Disney Springs

This is Disney World’s main shopping and dining district and where you go if you are looking for nightlife at Disney World. Disney Springs underwent a major refurbishment and expansion a few years ago and now has countless must-try dining options as well as a Cirque du Soleil show, a movie theater, a fun bowling alley, and more.

Most of the restaurants at Disney Springs are much easier to get a reservation for than the restaurants at the parks and resort hotels, so keep that in mind if you have difficulty.

Read our rankings of the best Disney Springs restaurants for suggestions of where and what to eat.

Resort Days

Planning a Day at a Disney World Resort

Disney World can be exhausting running from one park to the next. We recommend spending at least one day doing absolutely nothing at your resort hotel. When I say nothing I mean lounging by the pool with a drink.

A good strategy is to have one resort day in the middle of your trip so you can recharge your batteries before doing the rest of the parks.

What is there to do at the resort hotels you ask? Tons! Here are some of our favorite recreation activities at Disney World:

  • Boating/Jet Skis
  • Horseback Riding
  • Organized Resort Activities & Games
  • Painting, Pottery & Crafts
  • Sports – Tennis, Basketball, Golf, Archery
  • Jogging/Trails
  • Movies Under the Stars

Those should keep you busy for a while!

Visiting Other Resorts

Another option is to visit other Walt Disney World Resort hotels during your stay. The theming on some of them is really incredible (Wilderness Lodge, Polynesian, Animal Kingdom Lodge), it’s free to do, and it’s fun to just walk around and check out the grounds.

Visiting other resorts on a Disney Vacation

No, you can’t swim in the pools at a resort you aren’t staying at, but you can scout out the hotels to find the resort you will stay at on your next trip to Disney World. Many enjoy doing this during the holidays to see the various decorations at each resort.

If you don’t want to take a whole day visiting other resorts, we suggest booking a lunch or dinner reservation at one of the restaurants in the resorts and then going early to check things out.

Sure you can go to the parks and ride the attractions, but did you know there are dozens of tours (paid and free) that you and your family can take? Planning a tour can be a great addition to your vacation and there is one for the whole family.

Best Tours at Disney World

  • Keys to the Kingdom (Magic Kingdom)
  • Walt Disney: Marceline to Magic Kingdom Tour (Magic Kingdom)
  • Behind the Seeds (EPCOT)
  • English Tea Garden Tour (EPCOT)
  • Star Wars Guided Tour (Hollywood Studios)
  • Savor the Savanna: Evening Safari Experience (Animal Kingdom)
  • Wild Africa Trek (Animal Kingdom)
  • Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour (All Parks)

(Some tours are back right now at Disney World and others are still suspended.)

Keys to the Kingdom Tour Magic Kingdom

Extra Magic

There are also other special experiences at Disney World we like to call “Extra Magic” as they add just that extra touch you or your family member is looking for on your vacation. Be sure to look into these, especially for a special occasion.

  • Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique – This is a special salon that transforms your little princess or prince with a complete makeover. There are multiple packages that include costumes, make-up, manicures, and hair styling. Packages range from $75-$450.
  • Dessert/Fireworks Parties – Each of the theme parks holds Dessert Parties on almost a nightly basis. These parties include all-you-can-eat desserts and a reserved view of the fireworks shows. Prices range from $40-$70 per person.
  • Hard-ticketed Parties – Periodically there are events at the parks that require an extra ticket to and private from the general public and are some of the most popular events in Disney World each year. These include Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party , Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party , and various Disney After Hours events . Expect to pay between $109-$200 for these events.

Have a Daily Itinerary

No one likes being tied to a schedule on vacation, unfortunately at Walt Disney World that is not an option if you want to have the best experience possible during your visit.

Best Disney Vacation Planning Guide

We’re not saying you have to walk around with a clipboard and spreadsheet, but you need to create a general itinerary for the parks you are going to, which restaurants, etc.

The hard truth is, Disney World is too big and you can’t do it all even if you are there for 2 weeks. That’s why you need to make a plan and prioritize the most important things to you each day.

Some of the general questions about your Disney World trip that you need to think about are:

  • How many days are you going to spend in the parks?
  • How long will you go to the parks each day? Full days? Half days? Leave and come back in the evening?
  • What order will you visit the parks in? Do you need to visit some parks more than once?
  • How many sit-down meals per day? Where will you have those meals, at the parks or resort hotels?
  • Which extra experiences are important to me? Special events?

The clearer your answers are to those questions, the easier it’s going to be to plan your days, and ultimately the more fun you will have.

When You’re In the Parks

Assuming you know how many days you want to spend in each park, the next thing you need to do is choose the attractions that are most important to you. Make a list of the ones you absolutely NEED to go on and prioritize those first.

Once you have your list, you will know which ones to prioritize when making your Genie+ reservations . When you have those it will be easier to map out the park and decide what order to do the attractions in.

We recommend looking at the park maps and doing the rides systematically. If you are in Adventureland for Jungle Cruise, then do the other rides on that side of the park while you are there. It will save you valuable time instead of walking back and forth multiple times.

What to Pack & Bring

We are almost there, the only thing left to do is pack your bags. Walt Disney World is a unique place and there are many things you might not think about packing that will be very helpful on your trip. We usually think we packed everything, but inevitably leave something at home, that’s why it’s best to have a list.

Packing bags for Disney Vacation

Here are the most important things to pack:

Luggage/Bags – Make sure your suitcases are in good condition before packing and are big enough to hold all your essential items. Decide how many bags each person is bringing. This will also depend on how many bags your flight permits.

We always pack too much on our trips to Disney World and we find ourselves swimming in bags. If you have a room with a washing machine, take advantage of that and do a load of laundry to save space in your bags.

If you have colorful, character-themed bags, this is the time to use them, your kids will love them. Also, make sure to bring a small backpack. We like to carry one during the day so hold our camera, a bottle of water, sunscreen, medicines, and other necessities.

Shoes – This might be the MOST important item on the list. If you don’t have comfortable shoes in Disney World, you are going to have a miserable time. On average, we walk between 8-10 miles PER DAY on our trips. You may not walk as much as us, but it will be at least 2-3 times more than what you are used to back home.

Here are some other important things you need to bring with you to Disney World:

  • Medications
  • Phone Chargers
  • Travel Documents
  • Water Bottles
  • Frogg Toggs Chilly Pads (when it gets too hot)

Disney Vacation Planning Timeline

Now that you understand the basics of planning a Disney World vacation, it’s time to put it all together. When are you supposed to do all these planning tasks?

Sunset over Seven Seas Lagoon Contemporary Resort

Most planning items need to be completed a certain number of days before your trip. We’ve created a planning timeline for you to make it easier to know when you need to get all these things done by.

One rule you should live by with Disney vacations is “it’s never too early.” Start planning as soon as possible and things will go much smoother.

499 Days Before Your Trip

You have to be kidding right? I need to start planning my trip 499 days before I go? While it’s not absolutely necessary to start this early, it will give you an advantage.

Start Thinking about Travel Dates – Get at least an idea of the dates you want to go to Disney World. Consult our Best Times to Visit Disney World guide to see which months are the best and worst.

Research/Book Hotel Reservations – Disney makes resort hotel reservations available for booking as many as 19 months in advance. If you know where you want to stay already, you may as well book your hotel now because you’ll have a better chance of getting a room.

This is especially helpful if you plan on going during the holiday season or other very busy times of the year. Read our article on How to Book a Disney World Vacation for all the details and booking tips.

Download My Disney Experience – Even if you don’t have dates in mind, travelers should download the MDE app and open an account right away to start getting familiar with the layout. It’s also time to go on the Disney World website to start doing research on the hotels and parks.

1 Year Before Your Trip

Decide Travel Dates – By this time you should have picked out when you want to take your vacation. If you need help deciding, it’s wise to look at a Disney World Crowd Calendar to find out when the busiest and least busy times of the year are.

How Many Days at the Parks – You also need to think about how many days you are going to spend in each park and how many days total of your trip. Think about which parks you want to go to and if you want to visit one of the water parks.

Research Attractions – Familiarize yourself with all the top attractions at each park and think about which ones you really want to do.

Price Airfare – It’s never too early to start looking up prices for airfare if you are flying. You should aim to get your tickets no more than 6 months before your trip.

Peter Pan's Flight queue bedroom

9 Months Before You Go

Make Hotel Reservations – By this time you should know when you are going and which hotel to stay at. If you wait any longer you really run the risk of not getting the hotel you want. Lock in your room and then wait and see if a better offer opens up.

Get Everyone on My Disney Experience – You should already have an account, but you also need to make sure your family and all members of your travel party also are signed up. You will need them to be in the system for your dining reservations and FastPass+ reservations down the line, so take care of it early.

Buy Tickets – It’s always good to buy your Disney World park tickets as early as possible. First, the price never goes down and you will not find a lower price than what you see today so lock it in. Secondly, you need to have your tickets before making park reservations which tend to sell out early, especially if going at a busy time.

Make Park Pass Reservations – Once you buy your tickets, you can now make your park pass reservations. Don’t waste time, they sell out quickly.

180+ Days Before You Go

Park Hours – A few days before the 180-day mark arrives, look at the park hours for each day. This will let you plan out your day and will play a park in where you plan your meals and which Genie+ reservations you plan on booking.

Write Itinerary Rough Draft – Start writing out your ideal vacation itinerary day by day. Go through which parks you will be at on which days and which restaurants you would like to dine at. You now have a good idea of how your days are going to play out. Do this a few days before the 180-day mark as you need to have all the restaurants decided by then.

Disney Vacation Planning Timeline

Book Special Events/Experiences – Decide which special experiences you and your family want to do. After Hours events like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party should be booked once they are available. Experiences like the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique take reservations 180 days before and they sell out quickly.

Decide to Rent a Car or Not – If you are renting a car, start looking a prices and book one when possible.

Disney Dining Plan – You need to decide if the Dining Plan is worth it to you or not. If so, you can add it to your package.

Book Airfare – This is a good time to buy airfare and if you’ve been monitoring it for a few months, you have an idea of what a good deal is.

75 Days Before Your Trip

New Hotel Deals – Throughout the year, Disney introduces new discounts on hotel rooms. Periodically during the planning stage, check if any new deals have come out for your hotel. If a better room opens up at another hotel, so still have time to switch resorts.

Last Call on Tickets – If for some reason you haven’t got your park tickets by now, this is almost the final opportunity with park reservations sometimes filling up a couple of months before your trip. Make sure you have your tickets before then.

30-60 Days Before Your Trip

Disney Trip Planning Guide

Book Your Restaurants (60 Days before your arrival date) – Wake up early and be on your computer by 6:00 am sharp to make dining reservations. This is the most stressful part of planning as it can be hard to get the most difficult restaurants. Write backups for the most popular restaurants in case you can’t book your favorites.

Write Final Itinerary – Now that you have your parks and dining reservations locked in, you can write a final copy of your itinerary. You can always make adjustments later but you now know how most of your vacation will go.

45 Days Before Your Trip

Order MagicBands – Even though MagicBands are no longer free to guests, we still recommend ordering them for a small fee. They are $5-$20 per guest depending on what type you order. These must be ordered no more than 11 days before your trip to arrive at your house in time, but we recommend doing it earlier.

10 Days Before Your Trip

Shuttle Service – You can make a Mears Connect Shuttle reservation or other shuttles sometimes even 24 hours before departure, but there is no reason to wait. Get it done early.

Online Check-In – To skip going to the lobby upon arrival we suggest using Disney’s Online Check-In through My Disney Experience. You can set your credit card for room charges and set a pin for your MagicBand.

3 Days Before Your Trip

Memory Maker – This is the photo package with unlimited photos and downloads during your trip for you and your whole family. This must be ordered 3 days before arrival to get the lower price.

Pack Bags – We sometimes start earlier if we have time, but you should start getting out everything on your packing list and seeing how it fits in your luggage.

Keep Looking for Dining Reservations – If you weren’t able to get any high-priority dining reservations, keep looking periodically from the 60-day point to now. Reservations are more likely to open up the closer you get to your dining date as other guests cancel and change plans. Keep trying up until the morning of the date you are looking for.

Double Check – Run through the list one more time to make sure you have everything covered.

Get Excited – You are going to Disney World, the most magical place on Earth, so get happy!!

Disney Vacation Planning Guide

Right now. Do it as early as you can and start making plans even up to a year or more before your trip.

The average guest vacation to Walt Disney World is 4-7 days. We recommend 5 to 7 days for first-timers depending on your budget.

You can, but it is a bad idea. Walt Disney World is one of the most complicated vacations you can take and it needs the proper planning to make the most out of your trip.

Your Thoughts

I want to know what you think about our Disney Planning Guide…

  • What are your best suggestions when planning a trip to Walt Disney World?
  • What are your biggest questions about planning a Disney vacation?

Let us know in the comments section below!

If you enjoyed this article, as always I appreciate it if you’d share it with others via social media.  I work hard at making this website into a useful resource for you and your family to plan your visit to the Disney Parks and I hope it can help you! Thanks 🙂

Ziggy Knows Disney close

My name is Ziggy and I love Disney, everything Disney! I grew up on Disney and it has and continues to be a huge part of my life. I started young when my parents took me to Disney World when I was 18 months old. Little did they know that would be the first of an uncountable number of trips we would take. I have so many amazing memories going to Disney with my family and friends and it has been interwoven into my DNA.

Sunday 14th of January 2024

My special needs son and I are going on the Disney Wish in early March. Have you ever tried a Disney cruise?

Thursday 22nd of June 2023

Can dining reservations be made 6 mo in advance or 2 mo in advance please?

Monday 19th of June 2023

I just love your site. All the information provided is extremely helpful and useful. Thanks so much for everything!!!

Yvette Parent

Tuesday 6th of September 2022

Hi Ziggy I would like to get a PDF copy of your guide. Would this be possible? Thank you

Thursday 3rd of February 2022

Hello my friend. We will be staying on Disney property this Sunday and we have a reservation for Epcot on Monday morning. Our plan is to ride Ratatouille and would like your advice to go directly to that ride and have a short wait. What should our strategy be? Thank you for your help. Dan and Lora ps we also just purchased an annual pass holder ticket that is only valid on weekdays - I am not sure if that helps.

Ziggy Oskwarek

Hi Dan. That's a good question you have. If you aren't planning on using Genie+ or Lightning Lanes, then going to Remy's Ratatouille Adventure right at rope drop is a good strategy. The day doesn't make a huge difference as it will be morning and festival crowds tend to come more in the afternoon. Have an awesome time and let us know how it goes!

2024 Disney World Planning Guide

how to travel disney world

Our Walt Disney World vacation planning guide offers tips & tricks for 2024 on how to avoid crowds, save money & time, with info on Genie+ & Lightning Lanes, best rides, restaurant reviews, and itineraries for Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom & Hollywood Studios. (Updated February 1, 2024. )

The latest update comes as Walt Disney World is in the midst of more changes to restore normalcy, making the guest experience closer to what it was like in ~2019. With this, theme park reservations have mostly been eliminated, return of the Disney Dining Plan , and resumption of unlimited all-day Park Hopping . Next up is pre-arrival Lightning Lane ride reservations , a system that should closely resemble FastPass+ (but paid).

Beyond the rolling back of temporary changes implemented during the phased reopening and pent-up demand period, a ton is happening and changing at Walt Disney World. There are new attractions, nighttime spectaculars, and other additions on the horizon. We visit the parks regularly, reporting on everything as it happens–if you want to receive updates when discounts are released, new things are announced, etc., sign up to receive our FREE Walt Disney World Email Newsletter .

There are a few important things you need to know if you’re visiting Walt Disney World soon. First, the big new ride is TRON Lightcycle Run in Magic Kingdom. This attraction is very popular and can be difficult to experience due to not having a standby line. Improve your chances for success in scoring virtual queue spots by reading our TRON Lightcycle Run Virtual Queue Strategy Guide & FAQ .

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT, which was the previous big addition, also does not have a standby line. At least, for now. Walt Disney World has been setting up overflow queue and seems poised to ditch the virtual queue for that once the off-season rolls around.

Second, there’s the paid Genie+ service that offers Lightning Lane line skipping service (free FastPass+ was retired a few years ago). This can be purchased in the My Disney Experience app for variable, date-based prices that now differ for each park (Magic Kingdom and Park Hopping are most expensive, costing up to $39 per person, per day plus tax).

Genie can be confusing, but we’ve used and tested Genie+ and Lightning Lanes a ton . Everything you NEED to know, including ride priorities, where it’s NOT necessary to buy Genie+ or Lightning Lanes, and much more is covered in our Guide to Genie+ and Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World .

If you’re looking for ways to avoid waiting in long lines  without spending extra on Lightning Lanes, see our Best Time-Saving Strategies for Walt Disney World , which covers the best & worst ways to do that in each park–and is accurate for the entirety of 2024. That’s the result of extensive testing, and the optimal methods for outsmarting the crowds aren’t always intuitive. For 3 of the 4 parks, you’re better off using a ‘free’ strategy rather than paying extra for Genie+ and Lightning Lanes!

how to travel disney world

Winter is also typically ‘refurbishment season’ at Walt Disney World. For a look at what’ll be temporarily unavailable during your trip, see the 2024 Walt Disney World Refurbishment & Closure Calendar , which we update regularly with return and downtime dates. There are some big closures right now, including Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.

The other big closure is Splash Mountain, which permanently closed about a year ago. The good news is that this is also for 2024’s big new attraction: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure . That’s currently scheduled to open sometime this year–the timeline could move forward to Summer 2024…or be delayed until early 2025!

Then there’s the colossal EPCOT overhaul, which is now mostly finished now that new Luminous: The Symphony of Us nighttime spectacular and World Celebration Gardens have debuted. The only thing left is the CommuniCore Hall event space, which will likely debut before Summer 2024.

There’s a lot more on the horizon than just those things–here’s everything exciting being built: What’s New & Coming to Walt Disney World in 2024 & Beyond .

how to travel disney world

With those updates out of the way, let’s tell you about ourselves and why this guide is useful to your trip planning. We are obviously big Disney fans, but with this guide, we share our objective and unbiased tips. This covers the good and the bad, and the hard realities of planning Walt Disney World trip. We don’t sugarcoat everything or feel the need to put a positive spin on things. A lot about Disney is great, but that’s plenty that’s overpriced and not-so-great. If blunt, honest advice is not for you, there are many other sites that are all-positive.

With hundreds of trips dating back to the 1980s when we were kids, we’ve learned a lot about all things Disney. That now comes full circle as we start taking our daughter to Walt Disney World! We visit every month to see what has changed, taste-test new menu items, analyze crowds, offer recommendations for things you should do on vacation, share updates on construction, and much more.

This guide distills the key things we know about Walt Disney World into something easy to absorb and less overwhelming. Think of this planning guide as WDW101, with everything organized into the most important aspects of planning. The reality is that Walt Disney World is one of the most complicated vacation destinations on earth, and having a smooth and good trip requires doing your homework. With that said, we promise that taking the time to learn about Walt Disney World will be worth it, so let’s get started…

1A. Best Times to Visit for Avoiding Crowds

how to travel disney world

“When is the best time to visit Walt Disney World?”  This is often the first question readers ask, and it’s not an easy one to answer because it’s subjective. What makes an experience the “best” differs from person to person. With that said, in helping first-timers plan over the course of the last decade-plus, there are usually three distinct components to this:  crowds, cost & fun.

The first two variables are the overriding factors and, thankfully, those are objective. If you’re primarily concerned with avoiding long lines and high wait times, consult our 2024 Walt Disney World Crowd Calendars . That takes into account Orlando area school schedules, conventions, youth sporting events, park hours, special events, and more to provide you with specific dates that are the least and most crowded.

While that’s all about crowds (and can be overwhelming), we also have something more holistic: our list of the  10 Best and 10 Worst Weeks to Visit Walt Disney World in 2024 & 2025 . As the title suggests, that identifies the ‘red flag’ dates to avoid, as well as the ideal times to visit. It’s really more than just 10 weeks, as a number of the good and bad windows are far longer than a single week.

For example, pretty much the entirety of August and September are great from a crowds perspective, but we zero in on a single week that’s the best-balanced (from our perspective) as it combines low crowds, seasonal events, weather, and other factors. Same idea for a number of other dates throughout the year.

Rather than our objective crowd calendars, those are our subjective picks for when to visit. In addition to wait times, those rankings take other things into account: seasonal offerings like Christmas & Halloween, weather, new attractions, and more. If you find the crowd calendars intimidating, go with the Best & Worst Months post instead.

The good news is that, as a general rule, lower prices and crowds coincide with one another. Meaning that if you book your trip around the cheapest dates, you’re more likely to also have lower crowds. Prices are higher and discounts are weaker when crowds are higher, meaning you get hit with a double-whammy if visiting during these times of the year. (Spoiler: the highest prices and crowds both occur when school is out of session.)

1B. Best Times to Visit for Saving Money

how to travel disney world

The second component is cost. This one is especially significant now, as prices are up across the board. If you’re a first time visitor or it’s been a few years since your last trip, you might be in store for sticker shock. We take a look at this topic in How Much Does a Walt Disney World Vacation Cost? with sample pricing for multiple ‘trip tiers,’ from budget to luxury.

However, it’s not as straightforward as that. Some people don’t realize it, but prices vary significantly based upon when you’re visiting. If you visit for New Year’s Eve, you could end up spending close to double what it costs to visit a few months earlier, in September. Cutting to the chase, here are the Cheapest Times to Go to Walt Disney World .

The good news is that there’s considerable overlap between the cheapest times to visit and the least-crowded times. Visiting during the least-expensive and least-crowded times is entirely possible, and those goals align pretty well. Conversely, the most expensive times are usually also the most expensive.

Intuitively, this should make sense. When demand is highest, prices are highest. Like most other businesses, Walt Disney World charges what the market will bear, raising prices when able and discounting in order to incentivize visits when attendance and hotel occupancy are lower.

To that point, the other good news is that deals are starting to return to Walt Disney World after a couple years of very strong pent-up demand! See All Current Walt Disney World Discounts   for a full rundown of special offers through Spring 2024. There are a TON of discounts available right now, some of which offer up to 40% off hotels!

how to travel disney world

If you want to save even more money and do WDW as cheaply as possible, we have the 14 Best Tips to Save Money at Walt Disney World in 2024 . Those tips cover a lot of excellent ideas, such as buying discount Disney gift cards or having Groceries Delivered to Your Walt Disney World Hotel Room .

Those are just a handful of ways to save a ton of money on a trip to WDW! It also covers several options for the biggest expense of your trip–lodging. Among other things, you can stay at Walt Disney World’s best resorts for a fraction of full price by renting DVC points .

The idea behind all of these money-saving tips is not cutting corners and compromising on the quality of your vacation. To the contrary, we aim to “cut the fat” from your budget and recommend ways to save while also improving efficiency. Taking grocery delivery as an example–we do not recommend cooking dinner in your room or packing picnic lunches. Instead, we advice ordering nutritious breakfasts (the weakest meal at Walt Disney World restaurants) to have quickly have in your room or on-the-go each morning to save money and time .

1C. Best Times to Visit for Having Fun

how to travel disney world

Now we’re getting into the much more subjective area of determining when to visit. What makes a time of year more or less fun? Will you enjoy the parks more or less during certain timeframes? That’s really difficult to say. As a general matter, our mantra is this: “A rainy day at Walt Disney World is better than a sunny day at home.”

This is to say that you can have a great Walt Disney World vacation no matter what time of year you visit. The smile and laughter of your child hugging Mickey Mouse for the first time; the delicious taste of a Dole Whip or Citrus Swirl; the sight and sound of fireworks exploding over Cinderella Castle at the end of a long and satisfying day at Magic Kingdom. Absolutely none of that is seasonal. Those joys are possible 365 days of the year at Walt Disney World, and your trip will be made up of moments big and small exactly like those that happen daily.

However, it’s also fair to say that a sunny day is better than a rainy day at Walt Disney World. Most people probably are more comfortable during mild and temperate days than oppressive heat and humidity. Seasonal events can likewise add a lot to the baseline experience, taking a trip from “memorably magical” to “magnificently magical” on our  highly scientific scale of magicalness.

Hopefully you get the point here–that every day at Walt Disney World has the potential to be great, but also, that greatness has its own sliding scale, with weather, seasonal enhancements, and more cranking things up to the next level of magicalness.

how to travel disney world

The holiday season is our favorite time at Walt Disney World. It’s not even a close call. If we could only visit Walt Disney World one month of the year for the rest of our lives, we’d pick November or December. (Super-specifically, we’d pick the week after Thanksgiving that straddles the two months– that’s our favorite week to go! ) If you’re thinking of a holiday vacation, we’d implore you to start by reading our Ultimate Guide to Christmas at Walt Disney World .

Every park, resort, and Disney Springs gets into the spirit of the season. The last few holiday seasons have been scaled back, first as the parks reopened and then for the 50th Anniversary. With that now over, things are almost 100% normal for Christmas, minus the Cinderella Castle Dream Lights.

Last Christmas, there were two hard ticket events: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP) at Magic Kingdom and the brand-new Disney Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios. MVMCP will definitely be back for Christmas 2024, but it remains to be seen whether Jollywood Nights–which received a mixed reception in its inaugural year–comes back for a second season.

how to travel disney world

There are other seasonal events throughout the year, starting with the EPCOT Festival of the Arts in January and February. Following that is the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival from March through late May. Notably, Flower & Garden Festival has been shortened by over a month for 2024. Our expectation is that Food & Wine Festival also starts later and EPCOT debuts a new summer festival–but that’s just a guess!

It’s also possible that Magic Kingdom will once again do a special event in Summer 2024. In fact, we’d expect this to occur, with new entertainment debuting and smaller scale additions. Walt Disney World’s big new attraction (Tiana’s Bayou Adventure) won’t be ready in time for Memorial Day, so they’ll need something else to market in the first half of 2024.

Even if a summer-time event doesn’t happen, Pride is celebrated in June, and there are other smaller-scale events spread across the calendar. After Hours parties will once again occur in Summer 2024, too.

The special events kick into high gear in August, which will kick off the 5-month long ‘party season’ at Magic Kingdom. That starts with Halloween time in Magic Kingdom, from August through the 1st of November. Our Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Guide offers info & tips for Magic Kingdom’s fan-favorite Halloween-themed event.

While it has nothing to do with Halloween, another staple of fall is EPCOT’s annual culinary event. Read our Guide to the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival to prepare for that park’s colossal culinary celebration. This just scratches the surface. You can see everything that happens throughout the year in our Calendar of Seasonal Events at Walt Disney World .

2. How Long to Visit

how to travel disney world

How long you should stay at Walt Disney World depends largely upon the type of trip it is. If you’re not much of a Disney fan but are taking your kids on a “once in a lifetime” rite of passage trip, we recommend a Walt Disney World vacation of at least 6 or 7 days. The exact length will still vary a bit depending upon how much vacation time you have and if you plan on visiting non-Disney theme parks or destinations.

In addition to visiting Disney’s theme parks, you’ll also probably want to build a day into your itinerary for relaxation, and this is good to plug into the middle of your trip so you don’t get worn out by the theme parks. The other consideration for planning trips to Walt Disney World might be how much time to spend doing other things.

You might want to do Orlando-area theme parks like Universal, SeaWorld, or Busch Gardens. We recommend at least a couple of days at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. Use our Universal Orlando Resort Trip Planning Guide for strategy. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is absolutely mind-blowing, even if you’re not a fan of the books. The new Jurassic World VelociCoaster is the best roller coaster in all of Orlando–and that’s just one of several excellent recent additions.

We also have a post titled Walt Disney World vs. Universal Orlando that covers a lot of the pros and cons of visiting Universal. If you want to broaden your horizons and do something beyond Central Florida’s world-class theme parks, check out our 50 Things to Do in Orlando, Florida (Outside Disney’s Parks) . That covers beaches, manatee-watching, outlet malls, and much more.

3. Booking Vacation Packages

how to travel disney world

Vacations booked via DisneyWorld.com cover some combination of hotel, park tickets, and dining. Sometimes these packages offer excellent savings off rack rates, sometimes they’re merely full price elements of the trip bundled together. If you’re looking further into the future, 2024 Walt Disney World Vacation Packages are now available! (For those already wanting to plan 2025 WDW vacations, you’ll need to wait until late June or early July 2024, unfortunately.)

If you’re already overwhelmed, you might want to consider using a travel agent. If you go this route, look for one who primarily or exclusively does Disney-related bookings. As you can probably gather already, planning a Walt Disney World vacation is incredibly complex. If a travel agent doesn’t specialize in Disney, they probably won’t know the many nuances of Walt Disney World vacations. (For this reason, we don’t recommend AAA or Costco, even though some of their agents have Disney knowledge.)

Most travel agents specializing in Disney are “no fee” agencies, meaning that it costs you no more to book through them than it does to book through Disney (they get commission from Disney). If you are unsure of which package might be best for you–or need personalized help with any aspect of your trip–we recommend contacting a no fee “Authorized Disney Vacation Planner” ( here’s why we recommend one ) to get a quote and to help you plan. Request a quote from our recommended Authorized Disney Vacation Planner here .

4. Park Tickets

how to travel disney world

If you opt to book things yourself and without a vacation package, we recommend buying your tickets from an authorized third party ticket seller to save money. Read our Tips for Buying Discount Walt Disney World Tickets post for everything you need to know about choosing the right tickets and saving money on them.

Normally, prices increase in February and/or October. They increased twice two years ago, with the second occurring later than usual in December. Last year, the only admission costs that increased were on Annual Passes, which raises a question about whether tickets will increase again in December, or if Walt Disney World is waiting until February 2024. Either way, it’s not a bad idea to buy now to lock-in current prices no matter when you’re visiting between now and December 31, 2024.

If all you want to know is where to safely buy the cheapest, legitimate Walt Disney World multi-day tickets from an authorized reseller click here to buy via Get Away Today , our recommended & Disney-authorized ticket seller.

Disney’s mantra is “the longer you play, the less you pay per day.” It’s corny but true. Single-day Walt Disney World tickets are expensive , but multi-day tickets are much cheaper per day. The cost of additional days on a ticket substantially decreases with each day you add after 3 days. In other words, longer trips are not proportionately more expensive than shorter ones.

This is just one of the many tips we cover in our post about saving money on Walt Disney World park tickets . Whatever you do, don’t wait to buy your tickets at the front gates of the parks or on eBay…they won’t work!

5. Where to Stay

how to travel disney world

One of the very best posts on this blog is our Walt Disney World Hotel Reviews page . We have stayed at every Disney hotel, plus many off-site ones. That page offers links to each of our hotel reviews, room photos, thoughts on the amenities, pros & cons, and more.

When deciding whether to pay the premium prices that Disney-owned hotels charge, one important consideration for many will be on-site perks. Unfortunately, there aren’t many anymore–basically just some extended hours (see our Guide to Early Entry at Walt Disney World ), location, theme, and more convenient transportation. Since reopening, many benefits have been eliminated–either permanently or temporarily. Read about this in Is Walt Disney World’s On-Site Advantage Disappearing or Reappearing ?

When pricing out Walt Disney World hotels, you’re bound to have some sticker shock. Prices have gone up considerably in the last few years, and discounts are not nearly as abundant as they once were. If your budget is tight but you still want on-site luxury, consider getting a quote from Disney Vacation Club point rental company ( click here to book with the cheapest point DVC rental company ).

For more info about renting points, you might want to read our Guide to Renting Disney Vacation Club Points article. This is a great way to save money on nicer accommodations than you otherwise might be able to afford.

how to travel disney world

If you’re going to stay on-site at Walt Disney World, the three main tiers are Value, Moderate, and Deluxe, which are exactly what their names sound like they are. There’s also a Deluxe Villa tier, which is basically Disney-speak for “timeshare room.” Looking for the best hotel in each tier? Check out the following posts ranking the various Disney hotels:

  • Value Resort Hotel Rankings
  • Moderate Resort Hotel Rankings
  • Deluxe Resort Hotel Rankings
  • Deluxe Villa (Disney Vacation Club) Resort Rankings

Debating whether to stay off-site to save money or on-site at Walt Disney World for convenience and to be immersed in the magic? We have an Off-Site vs. On-Site Walt Disney World Hotels article that goes into great depth about the pros and cons of both options.

If you’re also visiting other theme parks in Central Florida, one alternative is to stay off-site. Our Universal Orlando Hotel Rankings & Reviews covers the pros & cons of those resorts, many of which we love for their locations, theme, on-site perks, and value for money. Additionally, refer to Universal Orlando v. Walt Disney World Resorts for a comparison between Disney’s and Universal’s hotels to see what each does better.

6. What to Pack

how to travel disney world

It might sound hard to believe, but packing for Walt Disney World offers ways to save money and improve your experience. There are some wrinkles to Walt Disney World that make packing a bit different, and by bringing certain “clever” (we think) items in your luggage, you will improve your experience. We go over the best stuff in our Walt Disney World Unique Packing List .

Two of our favorite examples from that list are Frogg Toggs Chilly Pads and this Compact External Charger . Seriously, you’ll wonder how you ever travelled without these (and many other) items on our list!

One of the most important things to pack for Walt Disney World is comfortable shoes. This can trip people up, as you probably walk  far, far less at home than you will at Walt Disney World. Suffice to say, what’s best for logging tens of thousands of steps could differ from your day-to-day footwear. See our picks for the Best Shoes to Wear at Walt Disney World for guidance–and be sure to plan ahead, breaking in your shoes before your trip!

Comfort is also key when planning your clothes for Walt Disney World–and weather can make that challenging. If you’re going in the colder months, check out our Packing for Disney in Winter post. For summer months, read Tips for Beating the Summer Heat at Disney .

7. Itineraries & Attraction Advice

how to travel disney world

Having an itinerary is a big deal, even for some frequent Walt Disney World guests. Some visitors create binders, spreadsheets, and schedule every step of their day. People get serious and obsessive about this. We are not those people. Planning is important, but going to those lengths is unnecessarily stressful and creates unrealistic and rigid plans. The best laid plans often go awry, and when that inevitably happens, it can be disappointing if you’ve over-planned.

With that said, we also recommend first-time visitors do not “wing it” for your daily itinerary . You don’t need to plan every movement so that there’s no spontaneity in your trip, just make sure you have at least a loose plan of what you’re going to do. As with most things in life, balance and moderation are key.

We have the following flexible step by step plans for each park that cover our perfect days using standby-only:

  • 1-Day Magic Kingdom Park Itinerary
  • 2-Day Magic Kingdom Park Itinerary
  • 1-Day Epcot Itinerary Park Itinerary
  • 1-Day Animal Kingdom Park Itinerary
  • 1-Day Hollywood Studios Park Itinerary

For step-by-step single day itinerary using Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, see these itineraries:

  • 1-Day at Magic Kingdom with Genie+ and Lightning Lanes
  • 1-Day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios with Genie+ and Lightning Lanes
  • 1-Day at Epcot with Genie+ and Lightning Lanes
  • 1-Day at Animal Kingdom with Genie+ and Lightning Lanes

Additionally, we have itineraries for Universal Orlando offering the same type of step by step advice:

  • 1-Day Universal Studios Florida Itinerary
  • 1-Day Islands of Adventure Itinerary
  • 1-Day Universal Park Hopping Itinerary ( both Islands of Adventure & Universal Studios Florida )

how to travel disney world

If you’d prefer to create your own itinerary, we recommend reading our Disney Parks Ride Guides and getting a rough idea of which attractions you want to do:

  • Magic Kingdom Park & Attraction Guide
  • Epcot Park & Attraction Guide
  • Disney’s Hollywood Studios Park & Attraction Guide
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park & Attraction Guide

We also have guides for the Walt Disney World water parks and Disney Springs:

  • Blizzard Beach Water Park Guide
  • Typhoon Lagoon Water Park Guide
  • Disney Springs Shopping & Entertainment District Guide

With that said, we’d strongly recommend using our pre-made Walt Disney World Park Itineraries . Those step by step guides are maximized for efficiency, and will save far more time than ones you put together yourself, or just winging it. These are good, flexible itineraries that offers attractions, dining, and other things to enjoy without going crazy with mapping out every bathroom stop of your day.

how to travel disney world

Those with small children should also know that some Walt Disney World rides have height restrictions, requiring kids be a certain number of inches tall (usually 38 to 44″) in order to experience. Measuring sticks are outside attractions with a requirement, and kids who do not meet the minimum height are not allowed to enter the line. There are no age requirements for any attractions. See  Height Requirements at Walt Disney World for a comprehensive list, updated with Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

Attractions that have height requirements also offer Rider Switch (also known as child swap, baby switch, rider swap, or parent swap). This is Walt Disney World’s system that allows parents with small children to take turns experiencing thrill rides and other attractions with height requirements via Lightning Lanes. See our  Guide to Rider Switch at Walt Disney World   for everything you need to know about this service. If eligible, it can save you a ton of time.

8. Where to Eat

how to travel disney world

A lot of the posts on this blog detail dining at Walt Disney World, which is a surprisingly complex (and fun!) topic. The most important thing for first-timers to know is that the tired stereotype that Disney dining is all burgers, hot dogs, and other fast food is not even remotely true. Disney has a lot of wonderful dining options that can be an experience in themselves.

To figure out where to eat, consult our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews page. That page has reviews of 75+ restaurants at Walt Disney World, plus other resources like our Magic Kingdom Counter Service Restaurant Rankings , and lots of other specific topics. Another great post with random quick-tips is our 101 Walt Disney World Dining Tips post.

Good dining experiences can make a trip, so if you only read more on one topic in this guide, make it dining. We know a number of people who have had their opinions of Walt Disney World changed for the better simply because they “discovered” the right places to eat.

how to travel disney world

If you’re starting the planning process far in advance, you might want to subscribe to our free newsletter for updates . We also provide subscribers with news from the parks, and have given a heads up on Free Dining and ticket price increases before they have been officially announced. This makes the newsletter especially handy for scoring discounts and being in the know as to what’s going on before your trip.

It’s also worth noting that if you’re trying to do “Disney on a Dime,” one of the easiest ways to save money is to not eat at Walt Disney World restaurants. Dining at Disney is expensive, and unlike park tickets, it’s not mandatory . You can save a lot of money by eating off-site, or better yet, getting groceries and preparing your own meals. We have a comprehensive Tips for Buying Groceries at Walt Disney World post that covers grocery delivery, local stores, and much more.

Even if you don’t want to make your own meals, grocery delivery is great for getting fruit and other small grab and go snacks, both of which are really over-priced at Walt Disney World. It’s also excellent for beer–for less than the cost of a single beer in the parks, you can have a 6-pack delivered to your hotel room!

9. Transportation

how to travel disney world

Walt Disney World transportation can be hit or miss, and can take a lot of time. For the most efficient transit options, read our Time-Saving Walt Disney World Transportation Tips post. This covers shortcuts, when to use buses v. monorail v. boats v. your feet, and more!

One of the other big considerations is whether you want to stay at a Walt Disney World hotel that offers a unique form of transportation, such as the monorails to Magic Kingdom or EPCOT, or the boats, walking paths, or Skyliner to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT. These can be a huge time-saver.

how to travel disney world

Disney’s Magical Express has now ended, and following a merger of two competitors, it’s indirect replacement is essentially Mears Connect Driven by Sunshine. This does cost money, but otherwise it’s roughly analogous to Disney’s Magical Express–it’s even operated by the same vendor that ran Disney’s Magical Express (same buses and everything, just no Disney branding!). For a broad overview of alternatives, see our Airport Transportation Guide to Walt Disney World .

An alternative to a rental car is Lyft (or the Minnie Van service powered by Lyft) or Uber. For the basics on using these ride-sharing services, read our Tips for Using Lyft or Uber at Walt Disney World post. This post also shares the easiest way to get to Universal Orlando Resort (in case you want to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, too)

10. What Else to Do

how to travel disney world

Your imagination is really the limit here. Most first-time visitors only know about the theme parks, Disney Springs, and the water parks. That’s just the surface of what Walt Disney World has to offer. There are tours, golf, fishing, nightlife, shopping, fireworks cruises, babysitting, spas, and much more. An exhaustive list would ultimately be longer than the rest of this already long blog post!

Most of our favorite things are couples or adult-oriented, which you can read about on our Walt Disney World for Adults page . Honeymooners (aka “Disneymooners”) should read our Walt Disney World Honeymoon Tips article. Here are some other posts that cover “other stuff” at Walt Disney World, and other ways to improve your vacation, that don’t really fit the categories above:

  • Free Things to Do at Walt Disney World
  • Best Magic Kingdom Fireworks Viewing Spots
  • Best Harmonious at Epcot Fireworks Viewing Spots
  • Tips for Celebrating at Walt Disney World
  • First-Timer Tips for Walt Disney World

how to travel disney world

If all of this is really overwhelming, we (again) recommend contacting an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and letting them do the work for you. This is Disney’s term for their affiliated travel agents, and the huge upside to them is that they don’t charge for their services–Disney pays them directly at no cost to you! Click here to get a vacation quote from our recommended no fee Authorized Disney Vacation Planner .

Remember, what’s in this post is just a starting point. To recap, you’ll also want to read our When to Visit Walt Disney World post for the best time of year to plan your trip. If saving money is important, read Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post to buy the cheapest tickets from legitimate sources. To figure out where to stay, our Walt Disney World Hotel Reviews page is a great resource. Want to know where to eat or if the Disney Dining Plan is right for you? Our Walt Disney World Dining Resources will help!

These are just a few of many posts mentioned in this article that will provide the foundation for your planning…but these 4 other posts are probably the most important of the bunch! If you enjoyed this Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide, please help us out by sharing it with your friends via social media. We put a lot of ongoing work into this, and hope it’s as helpful as possible to as many trip planners as possible. Thank you so much for your support–we really appreciate it!

Your Thoughts

Are you visiting Walt Disney World in 2024? If you are a Walt Disney World veteran, what tips would you add to this? If you’re a first-timer, is there anything else you’d like to know? Are you excited to experience the parks for Disney’s 100th Anniversary, or will you wait until Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens or more on-site perks are restored? We love hearing from readers, whether it be questions from newbies or tips from seasoned Disney pros with tips of their own to add!

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Written by Tom Bricker

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I will l spend my first full day at Disney World on a Sunday should I go to the magic kingdom, Epcot or Hollywood studios first to avoid crowds? Going the first week of March.

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Every traveler must read this crucial information before visiting Disney for tourism. I love the way you write for travelers this is easy to understand and the information itself is quality content.

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Hey Tom! Will you do an article on how to navigate busy times of year like spring break? We have historically been off season travelers to avoid crowds but older kids in school prevent us from being able to do so and I am a bit anxious about what to expect during spring break and how to best manage the crowds!

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Hi Tom, my wife and I are planning a trip to Disney World after Thanksgiving to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. We have never been to Disney World and want to make the most of our time (and money). We are really good at Genie+(Disneyland) and are willing to arrive for rope drop and stay until the parks close.

Which of the following 2 options would you recommend? 1. A 4-Day Park Hopper and do MK on a MVMCP day and park hop to HS. On another day, do a half day at HS and park hop to MK to enjoy the evening with fireworks and the “Frozen” Castle Experience 2. A 3-Day Base Ticket and 1-Party Night Ticket (Jollywood Nights or MVMCP)

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Hi Tom. Myself and my family spent 2 weeks in Orlando middle of August, including 5 days at WDW and we would like to thank you very much for all the advice you give. I read all of your blogs and the advice/information was so valuable to help us to get the best out of our holiday (we are from UK so we can’t visit as often as we would like!). Using Early Entry, Extended Evening Hours and very quick fingers on the Virtual Queues, we were able to do everything we wanted to do and much more!! The only thing that went wrong was when after doing Early Entry at MK we took the monorail back to our hotel (Yacht Club) via Epcot forgetting that we would technically be park-hopping so are restricted by the 14:00 rule. We arrived to EPCOT just after 13:00 so had to wait a bit. It was only a minor issue but thought I would mention as reminder to anyone else. We also learnt through this incident that although Park Hopping is officially allowed from 14:00, you can tap through from 13:45. Again, might be useful for others… We are already starting to plan our next trip and I continue to read your blogs every day! Thanks again and hope everything goes well with the baby!

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Hi Tom! Do you have any articles or good tips for room requests (timing, method, hotel cast member insight, etc)? I would really appreciate it! I am a bit of a Disney veteran, but the art of the room request has eluded me (for example, old online articles suggest faxing things – that can’t possibly still be applicable, right??) – and if I ever post any questions on Facebook groups, the comment section eventually spirals into negativity and chaos. Thanks!

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Hi! Thank you for everything you do, it is such a huge help when planning a Disney world trip when I’m used to just going to Disneyland. Do you have any tips on booking flights? Such as when is the best time to book, how far in advance and recommendations on which website to book through?

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This information is crucial for every traveler. It is common to encounter health issues during our journeys, which is why this comprehensive guidance blog is essential for everyone. I greatly appreciate your kind words about the post, and I’m glad that the information shared in the article has proven helpful to you. bali tours

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Hi Tom! Any tips for doing the Parks in the rain? We’ve been waiting months and see there maybe showers when we’re there next week. Thanks

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Tom, My family and I planned for a 2-day Epcot experience in June. I am using your itineraries for the other parks and I thought I’d ask if you have a 2-day for Epcot?

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Just amazing help for us in planning our vacation – thanks, Tom!

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This is in dire need of updating. Rock n Roller Coaster is down, Toyland is open and fabulous, we did Lightning Lane at Rise of the Resistance. And more.

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Have you heard anything about package service returning? It seems advantageous for Disney. I wouldn’t buy a large collectible if I have to carry it around all day. Having it sent to my hotel would’ve been nice.

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I have not heard anything about that specifically, but I have recently been hearing about very big, very comprehensive announcement plans to coincide with 2024 Walt Disney World vacation packages. Normally, that news would be released in June or July, but I suspect it might be coming earlier this year.

Again, no clue if resort package delivery is among the changes (it was not one of the things mentioned to me), but it very well could be given the potential scope and scale of the news.

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Hey Tom! What do you know about Typhoon Lagoons re-opening for 2023? I was thinking about adding the water park option to my annual pass renewal but wasn’t sure it would be worth it if both aren’t open. Thanks!

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I’m grateful you recommended we consider opting for a week-long Walt Disney World vacation if we want the kids to enjoy the experience and all the attractions available without wearing them out. I’m planning to take my kids to Disneyworld this spring, so I was wondering how I should plan the trip. I’ll keep your suggestion in mind while I look for a Disney VIP tour to book in advance soon.

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Hello Tom, I tried to use the code DTB5 at get away today and it says code is invalid?? Do you have another code that can be used? Also I love Sarah’s Mickey Mouse purse, where did she buy it I have to get one!! Thanks Lori

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The Get Away Today website tells me that the DTB5 discount code is invalid, so this article may need further updating (that or there is an error on their side – just thought you should know).

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This article is awesome. It was wonderful and I really like it. Thanks for sharing this post.

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Tips for visiting Disney World in 2024: 19 ways to save money and have more fun

Brooke McDonald

Editor's Note

Walt Disney World is one of the most magical vacation destinations on Earth. However, it can also be challenging, expensive, frustrating, scorchingly hot and the epicenter of meltdowns.

Which version of Disney World you get is largely in your own hands.

Luckily, there are easy, expert-tested tips for visiting Disney World. Use these tips to save money, have fun and ensure your trip is a magical success.

Use secret menus

how to travel disney world

In addition to their published menus, many of our favorite Disney World restaurants — including Nomad Lounge in Disney's Animal Kingdom, Trader Sam's Grog Grotto at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort , Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar at Disney Springs and Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen in the Magic Kingdom — have off-menu "secret items." Other restaurants around Walt Disney World may even have additional off-menu items, too.

While you may assume you'll find the same sky-high prices for these items as the menu staples, that's not always the case. Sometimes, these secret menus can end up saving you some big bucks.

For example, you can get Ohana noodles from Disney's Polynesian Village Resort without paying the hefty prix fixe price of an Ohana dinner by ordering a bowl from Tambu Lounge next door. It's not on the menu, but you can ask for it.

how to travel disney world

Eat at lounges, not full-service restaurants

The secret to a pleasant Disney World trip is striking a balance between maximizing your park time and taking enough breaks to remember you're actually on vacation. A leisurely meal at Disney can be relaxing, but traditional table-service restaurants are often pricey.

Instead of choosing a traditional full-service eatery for every meal, go for a relaxed lunch or dinner at one of Disney World's many atmospheric lounges. You'll still have a table and a server but can order from a menu of lighter bites and creative cocktails without spending too much on an expensive meal.

Related: Why Epcot is now Disney World's must-do park

For example, at Space 220 Restaurant in Epcot, the set lunch menu costs $55 for adults and $29 for children. However, you can still enjoy the space view in the lounge, which offers heavy appetizers ranging between $12 and $18.

how to travel disney world

Disney World's other best lounges include the previously mentioned Nomad Lounge at Disney's Animal Kingdom, Geyser Point Bar & Grill at Disney's Wilderness Lodge , Steakhouse 71 Lounge at Disney's Contemporary Resort and Sanaa Lounge at Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas — Kidani Village.

how to travel disney world

If you don't feel like sitting down in a restaurant or lounge after a long day at a park, ordering takeout meals from some of Disney World's most popular table-service restaurants is a great alternative dinner option. Just type "to go" into the search bar in the My Disney Experience app to see a list of restaurants where you can mobile-order a full meal. You can take your food back to your room or to the nightly outdoor movie at your Disney World hotel .

Create your own souvenirs

how to travel disney world

Recreation cast members at Disney World resorts run free daily activities, from poolside trivia to evening s'mores around the campfire to movies under the stars. They also offer paid activities that make fun do-it-yourself souvenirs, such as tie-dyed Mickey T-shirts.

At Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, for example, you can choose colored nuts and string to make your own kukui nut lei ($15 for kids and $20 for adults). Several Disney World resorts also have Community Halls where guests can watch movies, play games and make crafts — either for free or a small fee.

Snag hard-to-get dining reservations

Disney World dining reservations are available for booking 60 days in advance. However, guests staying on Disney World property with their booking linked in the My Disney Experience app can make reservations 60 days plus the length of their stay in advance. In other words, for a five-day stay, those guests can actually book some meals 65 days before their arrival.

Having this further-out booking window means you'll have a better chance of scoring the most desirable reservations, which sometimes get scooped up more than 60 days in advance.

how to travel disney world

Some of the hardest-to-snag reservations are for Cinderella's Royal Table, Space 220 Restaurant, Topolino's Terrace — Flavors of the Riviera, Oga's Cantina, Ohana and the new Roundup Rodeo BBQ venue at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Guests have until two hours before their reservation time to cancel, so something may open up at the last minute if you keep checking.

If you want someone else to do the hard work for you, there are websites specifically designed to alert you when a hard-to-find reservation opens up. Disney planning site Touring Plans has a free alert service that will notify you via text or email when a reservation for your chosen date and time range becomes available.

Related: The best $120 I've spent at Disney this year got me into the Magic Kingdom's secret tunnels

Take advantage of free ice water

Bringing a refillable water bottle to the parks is never a bad idea. However, if you need some water on the go, ask for a free cup of ice water at any quick-service location serving fountain drinks.

Oftentimes, a Disney cast member will be stationed at the door checking for mobile order return notifications, so you can just let them know you'd like a cup of ice water. They'll direct you to a numbered pick-up counter to grab one.

Save money by choosing your dates carefully

Just like it costs more to fly or book a hotel during busy weekends and holidays, it also costs more to get entrance tickets to Disney World on those days.

Disney World ticket prices now vary by date and park. The Magic Kingdom is positioned as the priciest park, while Disney's Animal Kingdom is the least expensive. Single-day tickets start at $109 per person but go up to $189 each. This means a family of four could spend up to $320 more on daily tickets, depending on when they go and which parks they visit.

Related: These are the best times to visit Disney World

Additionally, the cost of the reduce-the-line pass, Disney Genie+ , varies by day. It costs more on busier days (and has even sold out on a few occasions ), so the price differences can add up if you want to go to Disney World on a peak date.

how to travel disney world

You no longer need a park reservation

As of Jan. 9, 2024, theme park reservations officially became a thing of the past for guests with date-based tickets. You will still purchase variably priced, date-based tickets for the days you plan to visit Disney World, but you will no longer be required to make a theme park reservation for the park you wish to visit on a given day.

Now, you can wake up and visit whichever park you'd like.

This change applies to most ticket types, with the exclusion of annual passes and certain promotional tickets. These guests must still make a theme park reservation to enter a Disney World park.

You no longer need to wait until 2 pm to park hop

If you have a ticket with the Park Hopper option or are an annual passholder, you no longer need to wait until 2 p.m. to visit a second (or third or fourth) park.

Before this change, you had to wait until 2 p.m. to visit a park other than the one you had made a theme park reservation for that day. Now, you can visit additional parks any time you like throughout the day, making the Park Hopper option more valuable than it used to be.

Opt for other payment options besides cash

how to travel disney world

An easy way to shave anywhere from 3% to 10% off the cost of your trip is to buy discounted Disney gift cards to use for everything — your Disney hotel or Disney Vacation Club dues, park tickets, merchandise and dining.

You can get them from Target (there's a 5% discount when using a Target RedCard ) or from Sam's Club and BJ's at a 3% to 4% discount. Even if you don't get a discount, you can earn bonus points on your rewards credit card by strategically buying Disney gift cards at grocery stores and office supply stores.

Some cash-back credit cards also include wholesale warehouses in their quarterly cash-back categories, boosting your overall savings. Chain retailers like Meijer, Kroger and Lowe's occasionally run promos that can nab you even more savings on gift cards, too, so you may be able to get up to about 10% off.

If your heart is set on one of Disney's Deluxe resorts but your wallet says otherwise, you can often save money on pricey nightly rates by renting Disney Vacation Club points .

Depending on which credit cards you keep in your wallet, you may also be able to redeem points for your Disney World tickets or a points hotel near Disney World .

The information for the TargetRedCard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Assume it will rain — and plan accordingly

This is Central Florida, so there's always a chance you'll get stuck in a pop-up afternoon thunderstorm. The right preparation can mean letting a little rain roll off your (covered) back instead of drenching your parade. You can get "rain ready" with these tips:

  • Wear waterproof shoes (read: no sneakers and socks that can get soaked).
  • Bring a travel umbrella and a poncho or rain jacket .
  • Cover your stroller with a waterproof cover whenever there's even the slightest chance of a shower.
  • Consider the forecast when you choose what to ride first (you may need to prioritize outdoor rides).

Many of Walt Disney World's outdoor attractions close temporarily during rain and lightning. If you have your heart set on a top-tier ride — such as Slinky Dog Dash, Test Track, Expedition Everest — Legend of the Forbidden Mountain or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train — don't wait until the end of the day to try to ride. If you do and rain comes your way, you could be out of luck.

how to travel disney world

Carefully consider where you stay

Disney World has some truly fabulous resort hotels, but they regularly cost $500 or more per night. If your budget can't quite handle such a splurge, consider some of Disney's Moderate hotels ( this one may be our favorite hidden gem ) and renovated Value options .

However, know that it's not a deal breaker if you stay off Disney property. While there are many reasons to stay at a Disney resort hotel, there aren't as many as there used to be.

With the free Magical Express bus from the airport and free Magic Bands now long gone, the on-site perks list has shortened a bit. However, you'll still enjoy a few benefits, including:

  • Early access to the parks each morning
  • The ability to purchase individual Lightning Lanes for rides starting at 7 a.m. (instead of when the park opens, which is when non-resort guests get access)
  • No theme park or hotel parking fees
  • Extra hours in the parks on certain nights (for Deluxe resort guests)

how to travel disney world

If a traditional Disney property isn't feasible for you, remember that you can get all the above perks (other than free parking) if you stay at the Swan, Dolphin or Swan Reserve , which are all in the Marriott family of hotels and sit on Disney property.

Have a plan for getting on the newest rides

Disney knows that guests are clamoring to get on new attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Epcot and Tron Lightcycle / Run at the Magic Kingdom. The company also knows the experience will be diminished if guests have to wait in line for four or five hours before they get to try out the latest and greatest rides.

To keep wait times under control, Disney uses a virtual queue system when it opens new rides. Rather than have a traditional standby line, guests can try for a virtual queue spot on the My Disney Experience app. Typically, rides that use a virtual queue also offer a pay-to-ride Individual Lightning Lane pass, giving guests a free and paid option for getting on popular rides.

how to travel disney world

There are two opportunities to join: at 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. There is an additional option for Deluxe hotel guests at 6 p.m. during extended theme park hours. You can try for the 7 a.m. slot from the comfort of your hotel bed, but you must be in the park where the ride is located for the 1 p.m. opportunity.

how to travel disney world

How long the virtual queue system stays in place depends on how popular the ride is. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind has been open for more than a year and still uses a virtual queue instead of a traditional standby line.

Allot time for a resort day (or 2)

There's so much to do around Walt Disney World that you could easily fill several days with activities that don't require buying a park ticket . If you're visiting on a multiday park ticket rather than an annual pass, consider loading the bulk of your nonpark activities into a day (or days) when you skip the parks entirely — including your arrival and departure days.

Try a round of miniature golf — or 18 holes of the real thing — in the morning or some pool time in the afternoon . Visit Disney Springs for dinner, shopping and some Gideon's Bakehouse cookies for dessert.

how to travel disney world

Another good time to plan a resort day is before a party like Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party , Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and other after-hours events. Those go well into the night, so you'll need to save up some energy.

Save character dining for nonpark days

Character meals tend to be a trip highlight, but too often, guests make the mistake of trying to cram a morning character breakfast into an already full park day. Instead, save those character meals for a resort day, as a special dinner on your arrival night or a farewell breakfast on your departure morning.

how to travel disney world

If you have your heart set on a particular in-park character meal, book breakfast as late as possible. Make it a brunch, so you can save your early morning hours for scoring shorter waits on rides.

Don't 'rope drop' the most popular ride

One of the best ways to get a jump-start on doing as many attractions as possible in a day is to rope drop. Rope dropping means arriving at the park at least 30 minutes before the official park opening (or the start of Early Theme Park Entry for Disney resort guests) and heading straight for your first attraction the moment the rope drops.

It may seem intuitive to beeline to the most popular ride at the park — which is typically also the one that will cost you the most to skip the line by purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane. Still, this isn't always the best approach.

Two of Disney World's most popular rides — Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Avatar Flight of Passage at Disney's Animal Kingdom — are two of the priciest Individual Lightning Lanes. They are also two of the longest queues, preshows and ride experiences. This means that your rope drop advantage for anything else is long gone by the time you've exited either of these rides.

Instead, if you can afford to, purchase an Individual Lightning Lane for those rides (or wait to join the standby line until just before closing when lines are often shorter). Then, rope drop slightly less popular rides that are still on your must-do list. With that strategy, it's possible to get two to three other rides done in the same amount of time before the crowds start to build.

Combine this with Disney Genie+, and you'll easily knock out everything you want to experience in a day.

Related: We tried to ride every attraction across all 4 Disney World parks in 1 day for a good cause — here's what happened

Trade fireworks and parades for shorter waits

If parades and nighttime spectaculars aren't must-see activities for you, especially if you have multiple days in the same park, skip the show and hop in line for a popular ride instead. You're all but guaranteed a shorter wait.

how to travel disney world

Keep an eye on character meet-and-greet hours

Many character meet-and-greets start later and end earlier than when the parks open and close. Because of this, you'll want to check any must-meet character's appearance times in the My Disney Experience app. This way, you can avoid the heartbreak of missing out on a Winnie the Pooh hug or Wookiee fist bump from Chewbacca.

Know how to get in early or stay late

Disney has a perk that lets resort guests staying on property or in select affiliated hotels (like the Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve and the Disney Springs hotels ) into any of the four theme parks 30 minutes early to begin enjoying select attractions.

how to travel disney world

Additionally, on select nights, those in Deluxe Disney resorts (and again, including those at the Swan, Dolphin, Swan Reserve and Shades of Green) can stay two hours after the parks close to enjoy select attractions with relatively minimal waits.

Usually, Epcot and the Magic Kingdom alternate staying open late on select nights. On nights that Epcot is open late, travelers staying in eligible resorts get an extra chance to get a virtual queue boarding pass to ride the new "Guardians of the Galaxy" ride.

Related: 13 new rides, attractions and experiences coming to Disney World in 2024

Make your mobile orders in advance

Using the mobile order option in the My Disney Experience app can save a ton of time when ordering food from quick-service restaurants. But, on busy days at popular spots, the return times can get backed up quickly.

how to travel disney world

Instead, avoid that whole situation by placing your order early in the day for your ideal return time. Or, keep an eye on return times to ensure you place your order before your desired return window is gone. You can modify your return window within Disney's app if you need to change it.

Bottom line

Between having the right gear in your theme park bag , knowing about the hidden layers of magic built into Disney and following these practical tips, you're well on your way to being a Disney World pro. Not to mention, you'll be saving time and money.

Related reading:

  • Everything you need to know about visiting Walt Disney World Resort
  • Are the Disney Visa credit cards worth it?
  • New swan on the block: A review of the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
  • The cheapest place to stay at Disney World is a tent — so I tried it
  • 9 things you should never, ever do at Disney
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How to Plan a Magical Disney World Vacation

From hotels to theme park tickets, here's what you need to know to plan a Disney vacation packed with magic.

how to travel disney world

When to Start Planning a Disney World Vacation

When to go to disney world, disney world vacation budget, how to get to disney world, where to stay at disney world, disney world ticket types, disney world theme parks and more, disney world itinerary recommendations.

Courtesy of Disney

You’re going to Walt Disney World! The excitement of visiting the central Florida destination starts long before your arrival. From deciding which imaginatively themed hotel to stay at to making dining reservations, there are many factors that go into planning an epic Disney World vacation. We’ve been there and have done it all so that we could help you make the most out of your precious time.

Disney World offers plenty of options when it comes to theme park tickets and resort accommodations — so there is something for every style of traveler and every budget. Here's what you need to know to plan a Disney vacation packed with magic.

Related: 42 Disney World and Disneyland Tips for a Magical Vacation 

You’re going to have to throw everything you know about vacation planning out the window when preparing for a Walt Disney World vacation. On top of actual travel logistics like airfare, a vacation to the “Most Magical Place on Earth” involves securing accommodations, theme park tickets, dining reservations, and park reservations.

To have the most magical (and well-planned) vacation, it’s best to begin planning at least three months in advance, with six months being ideal. This will allow you time to take advantage of any upcoming Disney resort deals and purchase theme park tickets. 

If you’re hoping to be enchanted at coveted dining spots, like the “Beauty and the Beast”-inspired Be Our Guest, Disney World dining reservations open 60 days ahead of your arrival. Theme park reservations must also be made in advance for each desired day of your visit, and these are limited and known to sell out completely during high-demand times, like holidays and spring break.

Booking Tip

Consider heading to Disney World during off-peak times such as January and February, late summer and early fall, and avoid major holidays for less crowds.

Thanks to Florida’s moderate climate, Walt Disney World is open all year round, offering 365 days of fun. Deciding when to visit can be narrowed down to a few factors. If you’re hoping to avoid crowds, it is best to avoid the holiday rush. January offers cooler temperatures and typically fewer crowds. While the temperature soars to over 100 degrees in August, the back-to-school season is also a great time to visit.

Adults won’t want to miss Epcot’s award-winning food festivals that take place several times throughout the year. Halloween and the holidays are perfect times for families to visit and take advantage of limited-time offerings and whimsical transformations of the theme parks.  If you’re searching for a deal, Disney World typically offers discounted packages several times throughout the year.

There are quite a few factors to consider when planning a Disney World vacation budget with theme park tickets and hotel accommodations being two of the biggest expenses. Disney operates on a variable pricing scale based on demand. One-day, one-park tickets begin at $109 but can go up as high as $189 around peak times, like during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

The theme park destination is home to dozens of on-site hotel properties with every budget in mind. Value Resorts, like Disney’s All-Star Music, are the most wallet-friendly with prices typically between $150-$200 a night. If you’re looking to splurge, you can enjoy posh accommodations and a slew of enticing on-site amenities at one of its Deluxe Resorts, like Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, with rates around $800 a night.

Budgeting for food is also important. Disney offers hundreds of dining options to choose from, from casual quick-service dining to high-end table-service meals. At quick-service locations, like Woody’s Lunch Box at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, most entrees are priced between $10-$15. Coveting dining spots, like Cinderella’s Royal Table, will require a greater budget with dinner priced at $67 per adult. Disney World will occasionally offer dining promotions, like the Disney Dining Promo Card .

Michela Sieman/Travel + Leisure

Guests arriving at Orlando International Airport will have a few options for transportation to Walt Disney World. Ride shares are widely available in the area and can be one of the most cost-effective options. Disney has an exclusive partnership with Lyft to offer the Minnie Van service, available to take guests staying in club-level accommodations between the airport and their resort.

Another option is a shared shuttle bus service that exclusively travels between the Orlando International Airport and Walt Disney World Resort. The Sunshine Flyer is one such service with tickets priced at $19.50 per adult, one way. Booking in advance is highly recommended.

Once you arrive at Walt Disney World, the resort offers complimentary transportation (including monorails, the Skyliner gondola system, buses, and boats) between resorts, theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs, removing the headache of having to deal with a pricey rental car.

Disney World is home to over two dozen highly themed resort properties that are categorized into tiers: Value, Value Plus, Moderate, and Deluxe. Value Resorts, like Disney’s All-Star Sports, are the most budget-friendly, and they're ideal if you don’t plan on spending much time at the hotel. Basic amenities, like a pool and quick-service dining, are found on site, but resorts in this tier lack sit-down restaurants. 

Moderate Resorts, like Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, may not offer as many amenities as Deluxe Resorts, but they do offer impeccable theming, relaxing amenities,  pool complexes, and varying transportation options, including buses and in some cases, the Disney Skyliner.

For the ultimate splurge, Disney’s Deluxe Resorts offer an elevated theme park vacation experience in luxurious accommodations. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is a unique resort home to over 200 animals, offering Savannah rooms with breathtaking views of giraffes and other animals freely roaming on the resort’s reserve. Disney’s Contemporary Resort received a recent refurbishment and invites guests to enjoy its modern amenities with the added perk of easy walking access to Magic Kingdom Park.

There is a range of ticket options available, from one-day tickets up to ten days, with tickets starting at $109 per day. Guests can choose one-park tickets or add the Park Hopper feature for an additional fee. Park Hopper allows guests to visit multiple theme parks on the same day. This may be ideal for shorter vacations as it will allow guests to take full advantage of their time in the parks. A water park and sports option is also available that includes admission to Disney World’s two water parks and various sporting options, like ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Any ticket can add Disney Genie+ , a paid service that acts similarly to the former FastPass+ allowing for expedited access to most attractions. Access to Disney’s mobile app, My Disney Experience, is free and critical to set up prior to arrival. This allows all members of your party to be linked in order to book dining reservations and other experiences.

If you are planning to visit more than once a year, an annual pass may be better suited for you. The limited-availability program allows for multiple visits in a year for one price, with varying levels based on blackout dates.

Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure

Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park, home to the iconic Cinderella Castle , was Disney World's first theme park. It features beloved attractions, like Pirates of the Caribbean and Space Mountain, as well as newer rides, like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and TRON Lightcycle / Run.

EPCOT is a celebration of the past and future, with the World Showcase serving as the park’s main attraction. The World’s Fair-style park transports guests to 11 countries from around the world with authentic cuisine and entertainment. It also serves as host to Disney’s four award-winning annual food festivals. Take a journey to the Marvel Cinematic Universe on Guardians of the Galaxy : Cosmic Rewind , a thrilling roller coaster in the park’s World Discovery area.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is where you can live out the golden age of tinsel town through your favorite film and television franchises. It’s home to the groundbreaking Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge , Toy Story Land, and the fan-favorite evening spectacular, Fantasmic! Park goers can enjoy a ride on The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror or an elevated dining experience at The Hollywood Brown Derby.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a direct reflection of Walt Disney’s passion for animal conservation. The stunning park is an impressive feat in design, with its creators inspired by their own worldly travels to ensure it's thematically accurate. The wonders of the world are expressed through global cuisine and thrilling attractions, like Expedition Everest — Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. It’s also home to the only Avatar -themed land in the world, Pandora — The World of Avatar.

Disney World is also home to two water parks, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park and Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park. Both are distinctly themed and offer a number of slides, lazy rivers, wave pools, and relaxation areas making for the perfect day away from the larger theme parks.

Disney Springs is the property’s dining and entertainment complex. Serving as the gastronomical hotbed of Disney World, here you can feast from dozens of impressive options, including Wine Bar George and Morimoto Asia. It’s also where you can catch a production of Drawn to Life presented by Cirque du Soleil & Disney.

There’s so much to see and do, it’s likely you’ll only scratch the surface of all Disney World has to offer. To make the most of your vacation, plan at least five days to visit. You’ll need at least one day at each theme park to get a basic overview of what they have to offer. There’s plenty to do at Disney World that doesn’t require a theme park ticket too, so it’s best to add in one day away from the parks to explore the resort pool, other resorts, and Disney Springs. Each theme park visit must be planned in advance and all guests must have a valid ticket and park reservation.

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How to visit Disney World without losing your mind

If you’re thinking about taking a trip, with your family or otherwise, read this guide.

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The “most magical place on Earth” can be just that, but since its pandemic-era closures in 2020 , Disney World has become equally challenging to visit. It can be stressful and somewhat maddening to parse the endless Google results about park reservations and Genie+ bookings, but just like settling for a sad croissant at a tourist cafe in France, experiences at Disney are layered and knowledge yields better trips. In a sense, not all Dole Whip stands are created equal, and your resident Disney pro is here to help. (Rum floaters at Animal Kingdom, anyone?)

As a full-time theme park journalist focused on all things Disney for eight years now, I, too, was once an adult with a hazy memory of MGM Studios and a Mickey meet-and-greet. After one single trip to Walt Disney World, I fell so deeply in love with its charms that I’m now on the other side, leading you through this weird, wacky, anthropomorphic mouse-led wonderland with reliable expertise.

After all, there’s a reason millions of people travel to Florida despite its swamp-like climate. Even if you’re convinced your kid won’t remember meeting Minnie Mouse, Disney World can have its merits at any age. This is an American institution, and if the countless hours your household logs on Disney+ amount to anything, it’s also somewhat inevitable if you can afford it. Yes, it’s a multi-day trip. Yes, it can be costly. And just because you’ll complain the whole time doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go.

If you’ve got that voice in the back of your head, summoning you to its royal gates, here’s what you need to know.

What’s the deal with Disney World?

Unlike Disneyland, the classic Southern California theme park that’s easily doable in one day, Walt Disney World is essentially its own city. With two water parks, dozens of hotels, a mass transit system, a “downtown” mall and, uh, a utility district you’ve likely heard something about , there’s an entire ecosystem of lingo and logistics that can be as tricky to navigate as a foreign destination.

Still, Walt Disney World’s draw remains its four separate theme parks, each worthwhile in its own regard. Magic Kingdom is the castle-laden one you’re picturing, packed with a bevy of kid-friendly rides, character meet-and-greets, and classic nighttime entertainment. Epcot is a mishmash of newer, family-friendly attractions with seemingly never-ending seasonal food festivals and a bit of edutainment you may recall from childhood.

Then there’s Animal Kingdom , the tamest of the four — packed with stunning zoo-like experiences and a surprisingly beloved Avatar land — and Disney’s Hollywood Studios , a once-fledgling park that now houses Star Wars and Toy Story attractions alongside Disney’s only Mickey Mouse-themed ride.

As you’d imagine, Disney World is massive, with some destinations a 25-minute drive away from each other. You won’t need to rent a car, though — so long as you can figure out transportation from Orlando International Airport ( Uber , Lyft , or one of the airport bus services like Mears Connect and Sunshine Flyer ), you can make it around Walt Disney World itself for free.

What do I need to know before booking?

Visiting this self-proclaimed epicenter of all things magic really is a multi-day trip. I recommend four to five days on the ground — one at each or most of the parks, with a rest day in the middle. Sure, you can experience one park in one day if that’s all you’ve got, but it will feel exhausting to jam it all in.

When it comes to selecting dates, it’s what you’d expect: If it’s a holiday, it’s going to be busier and pricier; if it’s summer, it’s gonna be hot and also rainy. There will always be crowds, but to seek out pockets when things are calmer, look through unofficial crowd calendars and take note of park hours . (On nights from August through December when Magic Kingdom has ticketed seasonal events, it closes around 6 pm and won’t let you stay for fireworks.)

How much is this going to cost?

Tickets aren’t cheap. Adult tickets range from $109 to $189 per day, and for the time being, require a free but easy-to-forget park reservation . (This will change in early 2024 .) Disney offers single- and multi-day admission, but a park hopper , generally a $70 surcharge on a one-day pass and less for multi-day admission, allows you to visit any of them. Just mind the asinine restriction that hopping can only occur after 2 pm.

(Traveling before October? Don’t miss Disney’s rare summer ticket promotion .)

Once inside, it’s not just the $6 Mickey-shaped ice cream bar that’ll cost you — it’s the breakfast with Tigger ($45 for adults, $29 for kids) and custom Star Wars light sabers ($219) and other optional surcharges, like line-skipping, which can add up to around $55 per person, per day. (More on that below.)

With those endless pixie-dusted ads airing on TV, Disney wants you to think you have to stay at Disney’s hotels to feel the magic, but there are oodles of nearby hotels that sometimes offer more for less. You’ll miss out on Disney hotels’ perks — including early theme park and booking advantages — but it’s not an absolute dealbreaker to stay elsewhere.

Pricing changes constantly, and there are often seasonal discounts and promotions, but Disney offers three pricing tiers of hotels — value ($100-$200), moderate ($250-$450), and deluxe ($500+). (Higher-end brands like JW Marriott and Waldorf Astoria have outposts nearby as well.) Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, which offers Disney hotel perks, Marriott’s Bonvoy advantages, and walking paths to two theme parks, is often my go-to choice (pricing starts around $190 per night). For a ’90s kid, nothing can break the nostalgic hold that Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort has on you (thanks, Full House ), but if you can swing prices in the four digits, Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort is sheer perfection, ideal for special occasions or if the grandparents are footing the bill.

What can’t be missed?

Magic Kingdom is the quintessential Disney experience, even if other parks may be more enjoyable. It reigns supreme because for young ones or those short on time, it has the most rides of any park and all the classic meet-and-greets, providing more bang for your buck.

If you’ve got older kids who aren’t quite wooed by the charms of a slow-moving Peter Pan ride, turn your sights toward Hollywood Studios , whose Slinky Dog Dash coaster provides a worthy entry point to genuine thrills like Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Disney’s only upside-down offering.

For thrill-seekers, the Guardians of the Galaxy coaster at Epcot is a must, but if you’ve got someone in your group who’s as anti-Disney as DeSantis , not even the strongest of souls can resist Expedition Everest , a perfect coaster packed with a surprise track switch and, most importantly, no recognizable characters (save for a yeti). And if you’re the one planning the trip and simply give up, just head to Epcot . With its World Showcase pavilions and refreshed rides, the mix of Frozen meet-and-greets and frozen margaritas is a multi-generational crowd-pleaser.

If your child is hell-bent on meeting a certain character, know that while Mickey Mouse is at all four parks, some only meet guests at certain locations , while others, like Encanto ’s Mirabel, are currently only visible in parades and shows. Oh, and once the sun sets, Magic Kingdom’s Happily Ever After is the nighttime fireworks show to see. (It’s so good that its replacement was recently bounced out in favor of it returning.)

How can I avoid long lines?

Disney World once had a free program called Fastpass, which let every ticket holder “skip the line” on select rides. That no longer exists, but two new paid products, sold through the Walt Disney World app, grant access to a shorter, speedier queue.

The first, Genie+ , is essentially Disney’s paid version of Fastpass. Pricing changes daily and by which park you’re visiting, but for around $25 per day, per person, you’ll gain quicker entry into several attractions of your choosing throughout all four parks.

For the most in-demand rides, you’ll need to pay separately once again. Individual Lightning Lanes, which cost $10-$20 per person, provide one-time expedited access to the biggest, best attractions, all of which are excluded from Genie+.

Both are completely optional but maximize what you can do while in the parks — and, in a way, the admission you’ve already bought. They also require a bit of finesse. Disney-goers are on top of it, and if you don’t book the moment they’re available, you’ll be at a disadvantage. Genie+ goes on sale at midnight each day and ride selection opens at 7 am. Individual Lightning Lanes go on sale at 7 am for Disney hotel guests and at park opening for everyone else.

As you can imagine, there’s a lot of nuance to this somewhat essential process; we recommend reading one of the many Disney fan sites that break it down in detail . (Note: this can and will change in the future, so check the website prior to travel.)

Oh, and one more thing — for new rides, like Magic Kingdom’s Tron coaster , Disney will often impose a Virtual Queue . In lieu of standing in line, one must gain entry through boarding groups, which are free, and released at 7 am and 1 pm on the app. (For the latter drop you need to have already entered Magic Kingdom. And yes, it starts after park-hopping hours .) You can also toss some money at the problem — Virtual Queue attractions are usually offered with Individual Lightning Lane as well.

Do I really have to plan ahead?

Experts like myself will tirelessly recommend it, but there are some ways around it.

If you don’t mind eating quick-service meals — a.k.a. food on a tray — there’s no need for restaurant reservations. (You can also play it by ear and use the Disney World app’s walk-up waitlist feature to try and nab a last-minute table.) That said, if you’re looking for an elusive time to dine with princesses at Cinderella’s Royal Table or another popular spot, advance dining reservations go quickly and can be nabbed 60 days in advance , or a little earlier if you’re staying with Disney. (For any and all dining questions, the aptly named Disney Food Blog and its guidebooks are required reading.)

You can also use a travel agent, who will guide you through every step of the process and even book your travel, often at no cost to you. (It’s still a booming business in these parts, as their expertise pairs well with the many, many follow-up questions you’re likely to have.) Mouse Fan Travel and Dreams Unlimited Travel are among the biggest and best, but any independent travel agent with a focus on theme parks is likely to work their butt off for you, including sitting on hold with Disney’s call center for hours on your behalf.

Still, things you can’t budge on are familiarizing yourself with the offerings, linking all your plans through My Disney Experience and the Walt Disney World app, and getting your tickets squared away. The park reservation system, which is in place through early 2024, requires you to pick which park you’ll visit each day in advance, and those can sell out.

If you want to opt out of those Genie+ and Lightning Lane shenanigans altogether, arrive extra early, stay late (you can join most queues until the park closes), or parse through the massive amount of data for when the best time to pop in line may be.

What else do I need to know?

Pack rain ponchos for afternoon downpours, zip-lock bags for water rides, and if you’re traveling in the summer, your choice of personal cooling devices. (This place was built on swampland, and boy, does it like to remind you.)

Download the Disney World app in advance and make sure each member of your party (and your Disney hotel reservations, if applicable) are linked for those quick-draw 7 am bookings. Bring portable phone chargers, never wear brand-new shoes, and always check in with Disney experts ( like me !) for updates on theme park changes, which can happen at any time.

Also: The Starbucks line at Magic Kingdom may look short but it’s long, the monorail is always more magical than the ferry, and whatever you do, don’t buy the “ Most Expensive Day Ever ” shirts. No one thinks they’re funny.

Carlye Wisel is an award-winning theme park journalist who spends all her time obsessing over The Muppets and minutia of Disney and Universal theme parks. Her podcast, Very Amusing , covers everything from trip planning to interviews with athletes and actors who are unexpected Disney fans. Got more questions? Give her a call at 747-CHURROS. She’s happy to help!

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How to Choose & Buy Disney World Tickets

How to Use FastPass+ & MagicBands

Disney's Single Rider Progam

Disney's Rider Switch Program

The Top 10 Things to Do at Disney World

The 10 Best Rides at Disney World

The Best Rides for Kids Under 10

Disney World's Best Roller Coasters

Character Experiences at Disney World

How to Choose a Dining Plan

Disney World Character Dining

How to Make Dinner Reservations at Disney

Disney's Top Table Service Restaurants

Disney's Best Quick Service Restaurants

The Best Snacks & Sweets at Disney World

How to Choose a Disney World Hotel

The Cheapest Places to Stay at Disney

The Best Disney Resorts for Toddlers

The Best Disney Hotels for Large Families

When to Visit Disney World

The Best Age for Your Child's First Trip

Your Complete Disney World Glossary

How to Get Around at Disney

How to Get Around Walt Disney World: The Complete Guide

How to get around disney world.

One of the very best perks of staying at a Disney World Resort Hotel is the many transportation options available. When choosing the right Disney hotel for your vacation, you should take into consideration price, amenities, location , and convenience, which includes the various available transportation options. Before booking your Disney World vacation, think about the theme parks and other attractions where you plan to spend the most time, then look for a hotel with convenient access.

How to Get Around Disney by Bus

Every Disney World Resort Hotel offers free bus transportation to each of Disney World's four theme parks, both water parks, and Disney Springs , a vibrant dining and shopping district. Buses are air conditioned and operate on continual loops from each park's opening time to closing time, so the time you will wait depends on how recently the last bus left.

Keep in mind that Disney World is a very big place, about the size of San Francisco. The time it takes to get from your hotel to your destination depends on proximity, and bus rides can last anywhere from a few minutes to about half an hour.

How to Get Around Disney by Monorail

Originally conceived as a public transport for the future, the monorail has three separate beams. The first connects three resorts ( Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa , Disney's Contemporary Resort , and Disney's Polynesian Village Resort ) with the Magic Kingdom park. 

Another beam takes you to the Transportation and Ticket Center, where you can transfer to a third line that goes to Epcot.

How to Get Around Disney by Water Taxi or Ferry

There is boat service available between many hotels and either Magic Kingdom or Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Most routes run on 15- to 30-minute intervals. 

You can take a boat from these resorts to Magic Kingdom:

  • Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
  • Disney’s Contemporary Resort
  • Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
  • Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
  • Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

 You can take a water taxi from these resorts to Epcot and Hollywood Studios:

  • Disney's Boardwalk Inn
  • Disney's Beach Club Resort
  • Disney's Yacht Club Resort
  • Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort

You can take a boat from these resorts to Disney Springs:

  • Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter
  • Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside
  • Disney's Old Key West Resort
  • Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort

How to Get Around Disney by Disney Skyliner

Coming soon, a whole new complimentary transportation system called Disney Skyliner will give guests a birds-eye view of Walt Disney World Resort from gondolas as they travel between their Disney resort hotels and the Epcot and Hollywood Studios theme parks. 

Select Disney Skyliner cabins will have iconic Disney characters incorporated into their exterior design to give the appearance that a Disney pal is riding along with guests. The Epcot station will reflect the flavor of the park's European Pavilions, with metal and glass canopies, hand-painted murals and ornamental steel structures that harken back to the early 18th century Art Nouveau style. 

Disney Skyliner will connect Disney’s Art of Animation Resort , Pop Century Resort, Caribbean Beach Resort, and Disney Riviera Resort (coming 2019) with Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot.

How to Get Around Disney by Minnie Van

While there have always been free transportation options to get guests from hotel to park and vice versa, this new service will be a godsend for folks who want to go from park to park or hotel to hotel.

Available since July 2017 at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort and Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts (and soon to expand to other Disney World Resort Hotels), the Minnie Van point-to-point transportation service is a whimsical way to get around in a jiffy. Guests can order a private Disney vehicle right from their smartphone and a Disney Cast Member will drive them wherever they want to go within Walt Disney World Resort. 

Note that this is an Uber -like ride-hailing service and is not complimentary.

Maps of Walt Disney World

Disney Maps

Best Walt Disney World Resort Hotels in Orlando

Walt Disney World Guide: Planning Your Trip

Best Budget Disney World Hotels

The Ultimate Guide to Character Experiences at Disney World

The Complete Guide to Disney World for Adults

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Where to Dine at Disney World and Meet Characters

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Disney Transportation Map

Our Disney Transportation Map is an interactive map designed to help you plan your next Disney vacation. Use it to determine which Disney Resort is the best fit for your next trip to Florida!

How to Use the Disney Transportation Map and Guide

The massive Walt Disney World Resort transportation system can be confusing. Use our Disney World Transportation Map/Guide to navigate your way around the park. We provide the bus, monorail, and boat routes you will need to reach your destination.

To use the interactive Disney World Transportation Map and Guide, simply click on the name of the Disney Resort you wish to depart from or arrive at. You will see the Disney transportation options available to you. The transportation routes are color-coded and highlighted to correspond with the information in the legend key. Note that certain destinations do not have direct transportation options, and you may need to take a connecting mode of transportation to reach your destination.

Walt Disney World Transportation Map and Guide

Disney Transport  is a massive public transportation system at Disney World that provides efficient transportation within the park. All modes of Disney transportation are complementary (i.e., FREE) and open to guests staying at a Disney Resort and staying off-property.

The system consists of buses, monorails, watercraft (water taxis, boats, and ferries), and other assorted modes of transport heading to areas throughout Disney World. Disney Transport provides guests with a wide variety of transportation options, including resorts to theme parks, theme parks to theme parks, resorts to resorts, and Disney Springs (the shopping, dining, and entertainment district). In other words, where ever you want to go to Disney World, you can get there using some form of Disney transportation. Plus, there are taxi services like Uber and Lyft within the park if you so choose.

Because of Disney’s large size – 25 Disney Resorts, 4 theme parks, and two water parks – deciding which mode of transportation you should use to get from point A to point B can be confusing. Thus, we have created a Disney World transportation map to help you find the best route to your destination. Continue reading for detailed information about transportation routes and pickup locations to and from each Disney Resort listed on the map.

How Does Walt Disney World Resort Transportation Work?

Disney provides transportation using buses, ferries/boats, monorails, as well as a few other options like railroad and parking lot trams. One of the great things about Disney transportation lines is that it is entirely free to use, which means you can potentially spend no money on transportation during your stay at the park. Of course, there are plenty of  parking lots if you choose to use your own car (you can even get free parking if you’re staying onsite) — and you can use taxi/Uber/Lyft options (extra charge) to speed up your arrival if necessary. However, if you plan on staying at a Disney Resort, there really is no need to open your wallet to get around Disney World.

As you can see from the Disney World Transportation Map, there is a wide availability of free transportation inside the park. In addition, every Disney Resort has stations/stops to catch various modes of transportation to a theme park, water park, and other destinations around Disney World.

(Note: For maps of the theme parks, water parks, Disney Resort hotels, and Disney Springs, please reference our comprehensive  Disney World Map  page for printable PDF maps.)

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B us Transportation at Disney World

Buses at Disney World

Buses provide Disney World guests a mode of transportation in locations where monorail or boat are not available, and walking is not an option. You can find Disney’s bus service connecting all in-park Disney resort hotels with each theme park and water park (most buses provide direct service), to/from Disney Springs, and service between parks.  Like all modes of Disney transportation, bus service is complimentary and offered to both visitors staying at a Walt Disney World Resort as well as those staying  off-site .

On average, Disney buses run every 20 minutes from all Walt Disney World Resorts, although wait times can vary. To accommodate breakfast dining reservations and parks with Extra Magic Hours, bus service to the theme parks typically begins at 6:30-7 a.m. (running on a less frequent basis). Buses run at full operation roughly one hour before the park opens and stop running up to 2 hours after the park closes in the evening. Buses to/from Disney Springs remain in operation until 2 a.m. Check with your Walt Disney World Resort for the latest information.

Larger  Disney World hotels have bus stops inside the resort grounds, whereas smaller resorts typically have stops near the resort’s front entrance. The bus stops for theme parks are located near the park entrance, and the Disney Springs stop is located near the Town Center entrance.

Transportation and Ticket Center & Monorail Service at Disney World

Disney Transportation Map

With over 150,000 daily riders, the  Disney World monorail  is one of the world’s most heavily used monorail systems. There are three monorail lines at Disney, all originating from the  Transportation and Ticket Center  (TTC). The Disney World Transportation Map lists them all. Monorail service is free for Resort guests and non-guests.

The “ Resort ” monorail line loops between Magic Kingdom and the TTC, making stops at the Polynesian, Grand Floridian, and Contemporary Resorts.

The “ Express ” monorail bypasses the resorts and travels directly between the TTC and Magic Kingdom.

The “ Epcot ” monorail line provides service between the TTC and Epcot.

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Boat Service from select Walt Disney Resort Hotels

Disney World ferry boats

Guests of select Disney Resort hotels can embark on complimentary boat rides throughout the resort. Ferries, water taxis, and other Disney water transportation bring passengers to and from Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Disney Springs, and waterfront Disney Resorts. Most boats run at 15-30-minute intervals.

Magic Kingdom-Area Motor Launch/Motor Cruise Routes

Disney watercraft provide a fun and efficient mode of transportation to and from Magic Kingdom, the TTC, and the resorts surrounding The Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake.

Ferryboats : Ferries take passengers directly between Magic Kingdom and the Transportation and Ticket Center. Typical hours of operation: 30-45 minutes before park opening until 45-60 minutes after park closure.

Gold Flag : The Seven Seas Lagoon Gold Flag boat loop makes stops at Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Typical hours of operation: 8:30 a.m. until 60-90 minutes after park closure.

Blue Flag : The Bay Lake Blue Flag loop operates between Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Wilderness Lodge, and Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds. Typical hours of operation: 6:45 a.m. until 11:30 p.m.

Green Flag : The Green Flag boat travels between Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and Magic Kingdom. Typical hours of operation: 8:30 AM until 60-90 minutes after park closure.

Red Flag : The Red Flag boat operates between Wilderness Lodge and Magic Kingdom. Typical hours of operation: 8:30 a.m. until 60-90 minutes after park closure. Boats do not run for Extra Magic Hours.

Disney Springs-Area River Boat / Water Taxi Routes 

The hours of operation for the riverboat routes are typically 11 am – 11:30 pm. However, operating times may vary, so check the daily schedules.

Yellow Flag : Operates between Disney Springs and the Port Orleans-Riverside and Port Orleans-French Quarter.

Blue Flag : Operates between Disney Springs and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort.

Green Flag : Operates between Disney Springs and the Old Key West Resort.

Red Flag : Disney Springs internal boat service.

Epcot/Boardwalk-Area Friendship Boat Routes

The hours of operation of the Friendship Boats are typically 8:30 am until 60 minutes after the parks close. Operating times may vary, so check the daily schedules.

Hollywood Studios to Disney’s Swan Resort, Dolphin Resort, Yacht Club Resort, Beach Club Resort, Boardwalk Inn, and Epcot.

Epcot to Boardwalk Inn, Yacht Club, Beach Club, Swan Resort, and Dolphin Resort.

Epcot internal routes: one route runs between Canada and Morocco pavilions, and the other runs between Germany and Mexico pavilions.

Traveling Between Disney Theme Parks – Transportation Map

If you plan on park hopping, these free Walt Disney Company transportation options are available.

Traveling from ANIMAL KINGDOM to:

  • Epcot or Magic Kingdom – Bus
  • Hollywood Studios -Bus

Traveling from EPCOT to:

  • Animal Kingdom – Bus
  • Hollywood Studios – Bus, ferry, or walk
  • Magic Kingdom – Take the Epcot monorail to the ticket center. From there, transfer to the Magic Kingdom monorail or the ferry.

Traveling from Disney’s HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS  to:

  • Animal Kingdom or Magic Kingdom – Bus
  • Epcot –   Bus, ferry, or walk

Traveling from MAGIC KINGDOM to:

  • Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios – Bus
  • Epcot – Take the Magic Kingdom monorail to the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC). From there, transfer to the Epcot monorail.

Transportation from a Deluxe Walt Disney World Resort to the Theme Parks 

Guests staying at the Magic Kingdom-area resorts can take the monorail or boats to Magic Kingdom and buses to the other theme parks and water parks. Because of its proximity, guests staying at the Contemporary can walk to Magic Kingdom if they wish.

Guests staying at the Boardwalk-area resorts can either walk or take a ferry boat to Epcot and Hollywood Studios and buses to other theme parks and water parks.

Guests of other  Disney World Deluxe resorts  will use bus transportation to get to their theme park destination.

*see below for resort-specific transportation options

Transportation from Value and Moderate Disney Resorts to the Theme Parks

Guests staying at Value and Moderate resorts will  not  have access to either boats or monorail but  do  have access to buses that go directly to each theme park. Walking directly to a nearby park from your hotel may even be possible. For guests staying at Fort Wilderness, Disney offers a free shuttle service around the resort, making internal loops to take guests to different areas of the gigantic campground.

Transportation Between Resorts

Taking the free Disney transportation between parks can be confusing to the uninitiated. We recommend that you head to the nearest theme park and hop on a bus, monorail, or ferry to your destination. You may also find that heading to Disney Springs and catching a bus from there is an easy option. If time is of major concern, the quickest way to travel between resorts is by taxi/Uber/Lyft. This should cost you in the $10-$15 range, but the time you save may be worth the added expense.

Transportation from Disney Springs

Disney Springs  provides free parking throughout the day. While this may sound tempting to guests with cars, be warned that there is no direct transportation to the theme parks from Disney Springs. You can certainly take a bus or water taxi to other transportation hubs and find connecting services to the parks from there. Just be aware that transportation originating from Disney Springs will take longer than from other locations within Disney World. On a positive note, one-way service from the parks to Disney Springs  is  provided after 4 pm.

Transportation from Disney Deluxe Resorts

 grand floridian resort & spa – disney world transportation map.

The  Grand Floridian Resort & Spa  is Disney’s flagship resort. It also provides its guests with a host of transportation options. The resort’s monorail station is located in the Main Building (2nd floor), the bus stop can be found between the main building and Resort Convention Center, and the water launch is next to Narcoossee’s along the banks of The Seven Seas Lagoon.

Destinations:

  • Animal Kingdom – Bus (service runs from 6:30-7:00 AM until 2 hours after the park closes).
  • Epcot   – Board the Resort monorail to the Ticket & Transportation Center (TTC). Transfer to the Epcot monorail.
  • Hollywood Studios –   Bus (service runs from 6:30-7:00 AM until 2 hours after the park closes).
  • Magic Kingdom – Board the Resort monorail. You can also take the water taxi to Magic Kingdom.
  • Water Parks – Bus (service runs 30 minutes before the park opens until 1 hour after the park closes).
  • Disney Springs – Bus (operates from 9 a.m. -2 a. m.) or take the Epcot monorail from the TTC and transfer to Disney Springs bus.
  • Contemporary Resort or TTC – take the Resort monorail.
  • Polynesian Resort – Boat or Resort monorail.

Contemporary  Resort – Disney World Transportation Map

Disney’s award-winning Contemporary Resort is located adjacent to Magic Kingdom. This Disney resort hotels monorail station is inside the resort’s Grand Canyon Concourse. At the same time, the bus stop is located between the lobby and the check-in parking lot. In addition, the Contemporary’s boat launch is along the banks of Bay Lake.

  • Animal Kingdom or Blizzard Beach – Board the “Animal Kingdom/Blizzard Beach” bus
  • Epcot – Board the Resort monorail to the Ticket & Transportation Center (TTC). Transfer to the Epcot monorail.
  • Hollywood Studios – Board the “Hollywood Studios” bus
  • Magic Kingdom – Walk (5-10 minutes), take the boat, or board the monorail to Magic Kingdom (enjoyable but takes longer than walking).
  • Typhoon Lagoon – Before 4 p.m., board the monorail to the TTC and transfer to the “Downtown Disney” bus. There are direct buses between the park and the resort after 4 p.m.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort – Disney World Transportation Map

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort monorail station is located inside the Great Ceremonial House (2nd floor), the bus stop is outside the Great Ceremonial House, and the boat launch/water taxi is behind the Nanea Volcano Pool. In addition, the Ticket and Transportation Center is just a short walk away.

  • Epcot –   Board the Resort monorail (or walk) to the TTC. Transfer to the Epcot monorail.
  • Hollywood Studios – Bus (service runs from 6:30-7:00 AM until 2 hours after the park closes).
  • Magic Kingdom – Board the Resort monorail or walk to the TTC and board the Express monorail. You can also take the water taxi to Magic Kingdom.
  • Water Parks –   Bus (service runs 30 minutes before the park opens until 1 hour after the park closes).
  • Grand Floridian –   Boat or Resort monorail.
  • Contemporary –   Resort monorail.
  • Disney Springs –   Bus (operates from 9 a.m. – 2 a.m.) or take the Epcot monorail from the TTC and transfer to Disney Springs bus.

Wilderness Lodge Resort – Disney World Transportation Map

Monorail service does not extend to Wilderness Lodge, but there are a few Disney Transportation options. The bus depot is located adjacent to the Porte Cochere, past the gift shop and Cub’s Den. The boat dock can be accessed through the back door of the Lodge, past the Silver Creek Springs Pool, and down a walkway.

  • Animal Kingdom – Bus (service runs from 6:30-7:00 AM until 2 hours after the park closes)
  • Epcot – Bus (service runs from 6:30-7:00 AM until 2 hours after the park closes)
  • Hollywood Studios – Bus (service runs from 6:30-7:00 AM until 2 hours after the park closes)
  • Magic Kingdom – Boat (begins operating 30 minutes before the park opens on standard days, 1 hour before during Extra Magic Hours, and ends 45 minutes after the park closes) or Bus (service runs 45 minutes before the park opens until 2 hours after the park closes)
  • Water Parks –   Bus (service runs 30 minutes before the park opens until 1 hour after the park closes)
  • Disney Springs – Bus (operates from 9 a.m. -2 a. m.).
  • Contemporary Resort – Boat (begins operating 30 minutes before the park opens on standard days, 1 hour before during Extra Magic Hours, and ends 45 minutes after the park closes).
  • Fort Wilderness Campground – Boat (begins operating 30 minutes before the park opens on standard days, 1 hour before during Extra Magic Hours, and ends 45 minutes after the park closes).

Animal Kingdom Lodge – Disney World Transportation Map

Disney’s  Animal Kingdom Lodge  is the only Deluxe Resort that offers just one mode of transportation – bus service. The buses that provide service to AKL do not go directly to other resorts. That said, you will find buses that service all Disney World theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs. As you exit the main lobby, the Animal Kingdom Lodge bus station is on the left. Unfortunately, there aren’t any walking paths between Animal Kingdom Lodge and Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park despite their proximity.

  • Epcot – Bus (service runs from 6:30-7:00 AM until 2 hours after the park closes).
  • Magic Kingdom –   Bus (service runs from 6:30-7:00 AM until 2 hours after the park closes).
  • Disney Springs –   Bus (operates from 9 a.m. -2 a.m.).

Beach Club Resort and Yacht Club Resort – Disney World Transportation Map

Walking to Epcot from Beach Club and Yacht Club Resorts takes a few minutes. This allows you easy access to the wonderful attractions and  dining of Epcot , plus the Epcot monorail station. As far as other modes of transportation go, buses (stations located between the lobby and check-in parking lot) and water taxis (near the lighthouse on Crescent Lake) are nearby.

  • Epcot –   Walk or take the boat (operates from 8 a.m. on standard hour days, 7:30 a.m. during Extra Magic Hour mornings, and until 1 hour. after the park closes).
  • Hollywood Studios – Boat (operates from 8 a.m. on standard hour days, 7:30 a.m. during Extra Magic Hour mornings, and until 1 hour after the park closes).
  • Magic Kingdom – Bus (service runs from 6:30–7:00 am until 2 hours after the park closes), or walk to the Epcot monorail station and transfer to the Magic Kingdom monorail at the TTC..
  • Disney Springs – Bus (operates from 9 a.m. -2 a.m.).
  • Swan/Dolphin/Boardwalk Inn Resorts – walk or take the boat (operates from 8 a.m. on standard hour days, 7:30 a.m. during Extra Magic Hour mornings, and until 1 hour after the park closes).

Swan Resort and Dolphin Resort – Disney World Transportation Map

Like the Beach Club/Yacht Club Resorts, Swan and Dolphin Resorts provide their guests with bus and water taxi transportation. You can walk to Epcot in about 15 minutes, so the Epcot monorail is also within easy reach (if you don’t mind a little exercise). Buses depart from the front entrances of both the Swan Resort and the Dolphin Resort, while boats launch from the dock between the two resorts.

  • Epcot – Walk or take the boat (operates from 8 a.m. on standard hour days, 7:30 a.m. during Extra Magic Hour mornings, and until 1 hour after the park closes).
  • Hollywood Studios –   Boat (operates from 8 a.m. on standard hour days, 7:30 a.m. during Extra Magic Hour mornings, and until 1 hour after the park closes).
  • Magic Kingdom – Bus (service runs from 6:30-7:00 AM until 2 hours after the park closes), or walk to the Epcot monorail station and transfer at the TTC to the MK monorail.
  • Disney Springs – Bus (operates from 9 a.m. – 2 a.m.).
  • Beach Club/Yacht Club/Boardwalk Inn Resorts – Walk or take the boat (operates from 8 a.m. on standard hour days, 7:30 a.m. during Extra Magic Hour mornings, and until 1 hour after the park closes).

Boardwalk Inn – Disney World Transportation Map

Disney’s Boardwalk Inn benefits from its close proximity to Epcot (just a few minutes’ walk) and the Epcot monorail line. The bus stop for other Disney World locations can be found between the lobby and the check-in parking lot. At the same time, the water taxi to the Yacht Club, Swan, Dolphin, Beach Club, Epcot and Hollywood Studios is located along the Boardwalk waterfront.

  • Animal Kingdom –   Bus (service runs from 6:30-7:00 AM until 2 hours after the park closes).
  • Magic Kingdom – Bus (service runs from 6:30-7:00 AM until 2 hours after the park closes), or walk to the Epcot monorail station and transfer at the TTC to the Magic Kingdom monorail.
  • Beach Club/Yacht Club/Swan/Dolphin Resorts – Walk or take the boat (operates from 8 a.m. on standard hour days, 7:30 a.m. during Extra Magic Hour mornings, until 1 hour after the park closes).

Old Key West Resort – Disney World Transportation Map

Old Key West is a short boat ride away from all the excitement of Disney Springs. The water taxi dock can be found behind the lobby on the waterfront. There are 5 bus stops at Old Key West with direct service to the theme parks and water parks. The bus stops are located here: Peninsular Road (Buildings 23 – 29), South Point Road (Buildings 45 – 56), Old Turtle Pond Road (Buildings 30 – 44), Miller’s Road (Buildings 15 – 22 and 62 – 64), and North Cove Road/Hospitality House (Buildings 11 – 14).

  • Animal Kingdom –  Bus (service runs from 6:30-7:00 AM until 2 hours after the park closes).
  • Magic Kingdom – Bus (service runs from 6:30–7:00 am until 2 hours after the park closes), or walk to the Epcot monorail station and transfer at the Transportation and Ticket Center to the MK monorail.
  • Disney Springs – Bus (operates from 9 a.m. – 2 a.m.) or boat (runs from 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.).

Saratoga Springs Resort – Disney World Transportation Map

Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa is the largest Disney Vacation Club resort. It’s located within walking distance of Disney Springs, the popular shopping and dining area of Disney World. The Saratoga Springs “Blue Flag” water taxi brings guests to/from Disney Springs. There are 5 bus stops inside the resort to transport guests directly to theme parks and water parks. These can be found at the following locations: The Springs (Guest Villa 3101 – 4436 & The Carriage House), Congress Park (Guest Villas 1101 – 2836), The Paddock (Guest Villas 4501 – 6836), The Carousel (Guest Villas 7101 – 7836), and The Grandstand (Guest Villas 8101 – 9836).

  • Disney Springs – Bus (operates from 9 a.m. -2 a.m.), boat (runs from 10 a.m. -11 p.m.), or walk on the path to Disney Springs.

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Transportation from Disney Moderate Resorts

Caribbean beach resort – disney world transportation map.

Due to its large size, the Caribbean Beach Resort runs an internal shuttle bus loop throughout its grounds to bring guests to other parts of the resort. External bus transportation to all Disney theme parks and water parks is also available throughout the resort. There are 8 locations to catch external buses: outside of Port Royal, across from Trinidad North, Trinidad South, Jamaica, Aruba, Barbados, Martinique, and at the Custom House.

Coronado Springs Resort – Disney World Transportation Map

Coronado Springs is a “moderate” Disney Resort in the Animal Kingdom section of Disney World. It’s also in close proximity to Blizzard Beach and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Buses provide transportation to theme parks, water parks, Disney Springs, and the Boardwalk area. Bus stops can be found at El Centro, Casitas, Ranchos, and Ranchos and Cabanas.

  • Epcot –   Bus (service runs from 6:30-7:00 AM until 2 hours after the park closes).
  • Water Parks –   Bus (service runs 30 minutes before the park opens until 1 hour after park close).

Fort Wilderness Resort – Disney World Transportation Map

Disney’s Fort Wilderness & Campground is a themed camping resort located in the Magic Kingdom Resort Area. There are three internal bus routes – identified as purple, orange, and yellow. These buses run the length of the resort between the Outpost Depot (near the entrance of the resort) and to Settlement Depot (near the resort’s waterfront area). External buses take guests to theme parks and water parks from these two depots. Fort Wilderness also has a water taxi launch (near Settlement Depot) which brings guests directly to Magic Kingdom (Green Flag) or indirectly via nearby resorts (Blue Flag).

  • Animal Kingdom – Take an internal bus to the Outpost Depot and board the Animal Kingdom bus (service runs from 6:30-7:00 AM until 2 hours after the park closes).
  • Epcot – Take an internal bus to the Outpost Depot and board the Epcot bus (service runs from 6:30-7:00 AM until 2 hours after the park closes).
  • Hollywood Studios – Take an internal bus to the Outpost Depot and board the Hollywood Studios bus (service runs from 6:30-7:00 AM until 2 hours after the park closes).
  • Magic Kingdom –   Take an internal bus to the Settlement Depot and board the boat to Magic Kingdom (service runs from 6:30-7:00 AM until 2 hours after the park closes).
  • Water Parks – Take an internal bus to the Outpost Depot and board the appropriate bus (service runs 30 minutes before the park opens until 1 hour after the park closes).
  • Disney Springs –   Take an internal bus to the Outpost Depot and board the Disney Springs bus (operates from 9 a.m. – 2 a.m.).
  • Contemporary/Wilderness Lodge – Take an internal bus to Settlement Depot and board the boat to the Contemporary or Wilderness Lodge
  • Polynesian/Grand Floridian – Take an internal bus to Settlement Depot and board the boat to Magic Kingdom or the Contemporary, then ride the Resort monorail.

Port Orleans Resort – Disney World Transportation Map

Port Orleans Resort has two distinct Disney Resort hotels themed to look like the Old South and New Orleans – Riverside and French Quarter, respectively.

Port Orleans – Riverside 

Water launch service to Disney Springs is available from the marina. Riverside has four bus stops the North (behind Building 80), South (behind the main building), East (behind Building 85), and West (behind Building 25) depots. Port Orleans-Riverside shares bus service with Port Orleans-French Quarter.

Port Orleans – French Quarter

Water launch service to Disney Springs is available from the marina. Disney bus transportation goes to all the theme parks and water parks. The bus stop is located outside the main entrance of the hotel.

Transportation from Disney Value Resorts

All-star resorts – disney world transportation map.

We have grouped the All-Star Resorts (Movies, Music, and Sports) into one category because they all have similar transportation services. Bus loops going directly to the Walt Disney World theme parks and water parks may or may not pick up guests from other All-Star resorts along the way. The bus stop for All-Star Movies is located at Cinema Hall near Donald’s Double Feature Gifts & Sundries; All-Star Music is located at Melody Hall near Maestro Mickey’s Gifts & Sundries, and All-Star Sports is located at Stadium Hall near Sport Goofy Gifts & Sundries.

  • Magic Kingdom – Bus (service runs from 6:30-7:00 AM until 2 hours after the park closes).
  • Disney Springs –   Bus (operates from 9 a.m. – 2 a.m.).

Pop Century Resort – Disney World Transportation Map

Pop Century Resort is a Disney Value Resort themed around 20th-century American pop culture. Disney bus transportation goes to all theme parks and water parks from the resort. The bus stop for Pop Century is located outside near the front lobby, just past Everything Pop Shopping and Dining.

Art of Animation Resort – Disney World Transportation Map

The Art of Animation Resort is themed around Disney animated classics like Finding Nemo and The Lion King. This resort has one bus stop with transportation to every theme, water park, and Disney Springs. The bus stop is located in front of Animation Hall.

Disney Skyliner

disney skyliner

Disney Skyliner is the newest Walt Disney World Resort transportation feature. The gondola lift system launched on September 29, 2019, and is now in full swing.

The Disney Skyliner  has 3 routes that connect to resorts and theme parks.

The lines for the Disney Skyliner are hubbed from a central station at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. There are 5 stations in total.

The 3 Disney Skyliner routes are as follows:

Disney Skyliner Map

 Epcot Line

Route: Caribbean Beach – Riviera – Epcot

The Epcot Line is the longest of the 3 Disney Skyliner lines. The duration between Caribbean Beach and Riviera takes approximately three minutes, and the duration between Riviera and Epcot takes approximately six minutes.

Hollywood Studios Line

Route: Caribbean Beach – Hollywood Studios

The ride time for a one-way trip between Caribbean Beach and Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park is 5 minutes.

Art of Animation and Pop Century Line

Route: Caribbean Beach – Art of Animation – Pop Century

The Art of Animation and Pop Century Line is the shortest route of the three. The ride time for a one-way trip on the Art of Animation route takes approximately 4 minutes.

Disney Minnie Vans, Uber, Lyft, and Taxi Service

For those of you who don’t mind spending the extra money to get better service, then Walt Disney World has a few options for you. Guests can opt for the convenience and playfulness of the Disney Minnie Vans service or the standard on-demand ride services of Lyft and Uber. And yes, there are still plenty of old-school taxis within the park as well. Any of these options will improve your comfort level and save you time.

Disney Minnie Vans

Disney Minnie Vans is Walt Disney World’s on-demand ride service. These vehicles operate daily from 6:30 am to 12:30 am and are available to anyone within the park.

Although Disney has partnered with Lyft on this service,  Disney Minnie Vans  are actually operated by Disney and driven by Disney Cast Members (Disney employees). To schedule a Disney Minnie Van, you simply open the standard Lyft app and call for a pickup as you would for a normal Lyft ride.

As far as the vehicles go, the vans are more like midsize SUVs. They are painted red with white polka dots (a la Minnie Mouse). Each vehicle will hold six passengers and carry two adjustable car seats for children.

The cost of Minnie Vans is much higher than a taxi, Uber, and standard Lyft rides. Be aware the Guests can only be picked up in designated pickup zones and not from sidewalks or non-designated areas. Minnie Vans are able to drop you off directly at the Magic Kingdom or next to Pioneer Hall at Fort Wilderness or anywhere else you wish to go.

Disney Minnie Vans are a good option if you don’t mind paying for comfort and point-to-point convenience.

Lyft and Uber

On-demand Lyft and Uber services are available throughout the Walt Disney World Resort.

While cheaper than Minnie Vans and regular taxi services, be aware that “surge pricing” is in effect during periods of high demand. Prices for Lyft and Uber could potentially exceed taxi rates during this time. But, for the most part, Lyft and Uber will be the cheapest transportation option (other than the free Disney Transportation options listed above).

Using an on-demand ride service like Uber and Lyft is fairly straightforward. Just download one of the apps and use it on your Android or iPhone. Remember to stay put once you call for the car, so there is no confusion as you meet your driver.

Taxis are located throughout Walt Disney World Resort and use different brand names (Yellow Cab, City, Checker, or Safety). However, all the taxis are yellow, and all are operated by Mears Transportation (a company that has an official relationship with Disney). We recommend that you use the yellow cabs (sedans and vans) with meters, lest you pay more than you have to.

Call (407) 699-9999 to schedule a pickup, or have your hotel’s front desk call over to a Yellow Cab or taxi to wait for you.

We hope that you found the Walt Disney World Resort Transportation Map and Guide helpful for planning your Disney World vacation. Feel free to browse through other  Magic Guides  pages for more Disney insights, hidden secrets,  Disney tips and tricks ,  Disney Dining Plan Calculator , and   Disney Travel Planners  articles, as well as our updated   WDW crowd calendar   and our  Disney World Cost Calculator .

Thank you for reading our page, and we hope you have a magical Walt Disney World Resort vacation!

For help with every part of your vacation — from transportation to tickets to hotel dining reservation — rely on the  completely free  services of  The Vacationeer !

Their team of 90+ expert vacation planners can handle all your advance planning, so all you have to do is focus on going and having fun!

There’s never any obligation to book, and you might even save a bit on your trip thanks to their knowledge of all the latest discounts.

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  • Theme Park Tips & Planning

Your Complete Guide to Walt Disney World Transportation

Inside This Post

Being such a large property, Walt Disney World Resort has lots of ways to get around to the many theme parks, resort hotels, water parks and Disney Springs. With buses, monorails, boats and gondolas, you have many options to choose from. And best of all, all of these options are toadally free! We frogs are here to help you hop from place to place as efficiently as possible. This guide breaks down each mode of transportation and any tips to keep in mind. Let's get movin'!

  • Other Modes
  • Wheelchairs, ECVs and Strollers
  • Tips and Tricks

Monorail at EPCOT

Overview of Walt Disney World Transportation

One of the perks of staying on-site at Walt Disney World is the free ride around the resort. By gondola, car, ferry or monorail, you can hop straight from your Walt Disney World Resort hotel to the theme parks and Disney Springs! From the time Tad was a teeny tiny tadpole, he's loved collecting Disney Transport Official Collector Cards to document all of the different ways he jumped around during a particular trip. For Lily, card collecting is not her bag, but the monorail is always a must-do, a magical experience each and every time for our little froglet. And now, Walt Disney World has even added "The Most Magical Flight on Earth" — aka the Skyliner transportation system — to its fleet! With so many options to get around, it can feel like a puzzle to know how to get where using what.

Anyone can access Disney World transportation (not just those staying on-site) and they operate on fairly regular schedules. Generally, services begin about an hour before park open and stop about an hour to an hour and a half after park close. If you’re planning to hit the parks early or leave with the closing crowds, make sure to factor in more time than usual (and pack your patience!).

Guide to Disney World Transportation - Parking trams

If you don’t want to depend solely on Disney transportation or don’t wish to be around others in these enclosed spaces, you may want to consider walking, using a ride-sharing service (Minnie Van Service is back, as of June 29, 2022) or driving yourself in your own vehicle or a rental car . If you’re driving, exciting news! The parking trams are back at Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom and will hopefully return to EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios soon.

For a park-by-park transportation overview, check out our guides:

  • Magic Kingdom Park
  • Disney's Hollywood Studios
  • Disney's Animal Kingdom

Bus Transportation at Walt Disney World

how to travel disney world

Did you know that Walt Disney World has a bus fleet the size of Atlanta?  Each Walt Disney World Resort hotel (as well as Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts ) offers complimentary bus service to and from the theme parks and Disney Springs. Direct bus service between theme parks and Disney Springs is currently suspended, so you'll need to hop to a hotel first and transfer. If you're headed to the water parks, you'll typically need to transfer buses at Disney Springs.

If your goal is to be at the theme parks upon opening, we suggest using a ride-sharing service or arriving early at the bus stop to catch one of the first buses of the day. However, if you aren’t in a rush to head out of your hotel room, the lines will eventually simmer down after park open. Did you know that, if you're staying on-site, you can check bus wait times via the My Disney Experience app, as well as posted display boards at the bus stop?

If traveling to and from the airport, the complimentary Magical Express has ended its service as of Jan. 1, 2022, but there are third-party options available for an additional cost. And don't froget ... we frogs have  awesome deals on car rentals , which you can bundle with your tickets or hotel stay for maximum savings!)

Monorail Transportation at Walt Disney World

EPCOT monorail passing by Spaceship Earth

The monorail may be the very first mode of transportation you think of when it comes to Walt Disney World! We're usually "Team Monorail" when heading to Magic Kingdom. The Express Monorail goes directly between the park and the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC), while the Resort Monorail also includes stops at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort , Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa and Disney’s Contemporary Resort .

The EPCOT monorail transports guests directly from the Transportation and Ticket Center to EPCOT. Tad and Lily love it when the monorail actually journeys through part of EPCOT. Remember that the monorail only goes back and forth between the two locations, so you'll need to transfer to the Express Monorail to get to Magic Kingdom.

Water Transportation at Walt Disney World

how to travel disney world

Onto Leap's favorite mode of transport — boats! Remember when we said that Tad likes to collect the Walt Disney World Transportation Collector Cards? Well, while we simplify "Water Transportation" here, there's a Walt Disney World Transport card for every type of boat you encounter! There are several different types around property — from large ferries to Friendship Boats to water taxis! In fact, if you counted all of the boats at Disney World, they'd make up the seventh largest naval fleet in the world.

For Magic Kingdom, large ferry boats connect the park to the Transportation and Ticket Center. Smaller water taxis are available to connect the park to Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground , Grand Floridan Resort, Polynesian Village Resort and Disney's Wilderness Lodge .

Friendship Boats connect EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios, and the EPCOT-area hotels, such as Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, Disney's Yacht Club and Beach Club Resorts and Disney's BoardWalk Inn and Villas .

Guide to Port Orleans - Riverside: Boat transportation

Headed to Disney Springs? Watercraft service is available for Disney's Old Key West Resort , Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort , Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside and Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter .

Skyliner Transportation at Walt Disney World

Guide to Disney World Transportation - Disney Skyliner gondolas

Disney World's newest (and cutest) mode of transportation is the Disney Skyliner system . These colorful gondolas connect EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios to select Disney hotels. Because the gondolas are constantly moving, the lines can move quickly at most of the stations, except for the Riviera station (which we’ll explain in just a bit!).

If you’re staying at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort , Disney’s Riviera Resort , Disney’s Pop Century Resort or Disney’s Art of Animation Resort , Skyliner is currently the only Disney transportation option offered for guests who want to go to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios. Buses are only available if Skyliner is not operating (which happens often in the summer due to weather). If you’re staying in the EPCOT Resort area, riding the Skyliner is a possibility in addition to walking or taking a Friendship Boat. You can check out the Skyliner station at Caribbean Beach in Tad's video above.

Plan extra time if you’re hopping on at the shared Skyliner station for Pop Century and Art of Animation. Because you need to transfer lines at the Caribbean Beach station, you’ll have to hop off and go to the back of another line for whichever destination you’re headed to.

The lines at the Riviera station may take longer (in either direction) because most guests are traveling straight through the station and do not hop off. Therefore, it may take longer for an empty gondola to come through the station, as opposed to guaranteed empty cabins at all of the other stations.

We love the whimsical gondolas and think the Skyliner is a great addition to Disney World's transportation!

Other Modes of Transportation at Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World Transportation - Minnie Van Service

Depending on which Walt Disney World Resort hotel you’re staying at, walking may be the fastest and most convenient option for you. Disney’s Contemporary Resort guests can easily walk the half-mile to and from Magic Kingdom within 10 to 15 minutes. We especially recommend walking to Magic Kingdom because the resort monorail has to make a few stops before it gets to the park entrance. A new walkway has opened to connect Magic Kingdom with Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, which will also link the existing walkway between the Grand Floridian and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios are also accessible on foot if you’re staying at one of the Crescent Lake resorts. This includes Disney’s Beach Club Resort , Disney’s Yacht Club Resort , Disney’s BoardWalk Inn , Walt Disney World Swan Resort and Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort . Friendship Boats are still a great option, however, walking may still be faster than a boat, which makes multiple stops.

Using a ride-sharing app is an alternative if you wish to skip the long waits for Disney transportation (and the ride-share pick-up and drop-off areas are all right by the theme park entrances). We generally like using Uber or Lyft sparingly, the exception being if we’re running behind and need to make a dining reservation. However, it’s not the most cost-effective or family-friendly option. A ride will likely cost about $10 each, and the total costs add up quickly if you rely on ride-sharing. Also, if you have a large party or need more than one car seat, you may have to request multiple cars.

Exciting news! The colorful polka-dot  Minnie Vans have returned to Walt Disney World, as of June 29, 2022. The ride service works through the Lyft app and the cars are driven by Disney cast members. Each vehicle can accommodate up to six guests and has two car seats — perfect for larger families.

Depending on where you’re coming from, it may be easier to drive your own car, especially if you’re staying on property. You get to move around in the comfort of your own vehicle and not have to worry about relying on Disney transportation. If driving to Orlando isn’t feasible, then consider renting a car that you can pick up at the Orlando International Airport. Especially with the absence of Disney’s Magical Express, you would need to travel to the resort and then still be in control of your own transportation around Disney World. While you would have to pay a nightly self-parking fee at any of the Disney hotels, general parking at the theme parks is free for on-site hotel guests (and annual passholders).

If you’re not staying on-site, we’d recommend weighing the costs of ride-sharing services against the costs of a rental car, plus any parking fees at the hotel and general parking at the theme parks. It would likely come down to how far away your hotel is and the size of your frog squad. Also keep in mind how close you are to Disney Springs — if you can walk to Disney Springs, you can hop on any of the resort buses there (though you will have to transfer buses if you're headed to any of the theme parks).

Navigating Walt Disney World Transportation with Wheelchairs, ECVs and Strollers

- All-Star Movies Resort — Bus stop

If you utilize an ECV, wheelchair or mobility device, or have little ones in tow in a stroller, here's what to know about Walt Disney World transportation:

  • Strollers will need to be emptied, folded and stowed when onboard a bus, tram and some smaller boats.
  • All Walt Disney World buses are equipped to accommodate various types of wheelchairs and ECVs/scooters. There's a lift on board where the ECV or scooter will be fastened. It is then recommended that guests transfer to a bus seat. Guests using canes, walkers, crutches or who have difficulty walking can board via the rear door (just let the bus driver know before boarding, as this is generally an exit only).
  • Strollers may remain open (and full of tadpoles) when riding Skyliner, the monorail and larger ferry boats.
  • There is a separate queue for wheelchair-accessible gondolas at each Skyliner station. These special gondolas move to the side so that you can take your time getting on and comfortable (no "ghostly interruptions" like you'll hear on Haunted Mansion!). Mobility aids, as well as larger strollers, need to fit within a 30-inch by 48-inch area.
  • Watercraft access for those utilizing scooters, wheelchairs or ECVs varies depending on the type of watercraft and the existing water levels and conditions. Please contact a Disney cast member at the watercraft dock for information and assistance. When we've taken Grandma Frog to the parks, who uses a walker or cane, we've noticed that the smaller boats are more difficult to step off of the dock and onto the boats. The larger ferries, including the TTC Ferry and the Friendship Boats, make for a more stable transition for her. If you utilize mobility devices, it may be your safest bet to steer clear of the smaller forms of water transportation.
  • Guests with mobility aids may access the Walt Disney World monorail system by using the elevators or ramps at each station.
  • When Minnie Vans are operating, you can request an accessible vehicle via the Lyft app. There's also plenty of room to stow a stroller, and Minnie Vans are equipped with car seats.

Walt Disney World Transportation Tips and Tricks

Walt Disney World Transportation - My Disney Experience

  • Be sure to check your hotel bus stop again as you leave the theme parks! Sometimes, these can change throughout the day (so the stop you arrived at may not be the same stall as you leave).
  • The biggest transportation rush hoppens about an hour before the parks open, and in the hour after the parks close, especially right after the fireworks.
  • Be sure to allow yourself about an hour to an hour and a half (if traveling during peak times) for Disney transportation. Whether you're parking and heading to the park's entrance, or utilizing free transportation, you'll need to pack some transport time into your day.
  • Disney World theme park parking lots open up about an hour before the park's scheduled opening time, so if you arrive and see that there's a traffic jam, don't worry! The attendants may not be letting cars in just yet. Once things open up, it clears quickly.
  • At Disney's Fort Wilderness Campground, rideshare vehicles can only meet you at the Outpost (while Minnie Vans can come directly to your campsite — which is especially appreciated during those Orlando showers!).
  • Not sure where to catch a ride? In My Disney Experience, on your map, you can toggle to "Transportation" to see modes and stops near you (including directions).

Did we miss any tips for transportation at Disney World? Be sure to let us know in the comments below! Which mode of transportation is your favorite? 

Related: Disney World Has Reopened — Here's What You Need to Know!

Hoppy planning!

Keep hopping, Mommy Frog!

Tags: Disney Transportation , Walt Disney World

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I was wondering if guests can be dropped off without paying for parking. My husband and son in law will be golfing on one of the days and will not be visiting a park but the rest of the group will.

Hi Jennifer!

Yes, guests can be dropped off. At the parking toll booth, inform the cast member and they will give you directions to the drop off area.

How much is the parking at Magic Kingdom for transportation?

Hi Christine!

Standard parking at any of the four theme parks is $25 per day. If you're staying at a Disney Resort hotel, parking is free.

Not used Disney bus from All Star Sports before...FANTASTIC...Some comment sites seem to say the are unreliable, but although we only used them to go back to the fireworks at M.K. / Epcot & H.Studios they seemed to have plenty of buses running & went directly from All Star to the park & back after the fireworks...Cannot praise system & their drivers enough

I noticed you say it will take 60 mins to get to either water park from Port Orleans Riverside. Is there a faster way than bus? For two adults and we will not be renting a car. Thank you

There is no direct bus route from Port Orleans Riverside to the water parks, so the 60-minute approximation is allowing enough time for you to take a bus to Disney Springs and then transferring to another bus. Aside from free Disney transportation, you could take a Minnie Van or use a ride-sharing service for a faster and more direct option.

Keep hopping!

We are traveling during the weekend MLK weekend for 4 full days and staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge. If budget is not an issue, do you recommend a rental car? How easy / difficult is to navigate / park using our cars?

It depends on a few factors! Are you planning to stay on Disney property the entire time (not really needed), or are you venturing out to any other Orlando attractions or outside restaurants/stores (we'd recommend a rental car then)? Overall, Disney World covers a large area, but we think it's fairly easy to navigate if you follow the signage around property. Fortunately, overnight self-parking at the hotels is now free for hotel guests! If you like having control over your schedule, a rental car will usually be faster. But if you don't want to worry about driving in a large, unfamiliar place, then take Disney transportation.

Is the clarification needed about the name of vehicle? Maybe it was in the ECV category.

The last time my sister and I visited WDW I rented “golf cart” type vehicle. It was perfect since I have back & knee problems and can’t walk distances. I am now 75 & sister is 71. Is there a similar vehicle for two?

Guests can rent ECVs at the theme parks, water parks and Disney Springs. However, an ECV can only hold one person at a time, so if both of you intend to use it, each would need to rent one. (This may be toadally unrelated but if you're staying at or visiting Fort Wilderness, there are golf cart rentals available — just stating in case it jogs your memory from your previous visit!)

I’m a local resident and would like to go with some friends to Grand Floridian to see the Ginger Bread house and then port Orleans for the Mickey beignet. What would be the best route with parking our car at Disney springs?

Hi Georgiann!

From Disney Springs, take a bus over to the Grand Floridian. From there, there isn't a direct route between hotels, so the easiest way is to take the resort monorail or a water taxi to Magic Kingdom (monorail would be more direct; the water taxi stops at the Polynesian on the way over to Magic Kingdom). Then, head over to the bus stations and take a bus to Port Orleans. After Port Orleans, you could take a bus or a boat back to Disney Springs.

Hi there, I’m finding all the different methods of Disney transportation overwhelming. I’m just wondering, do you have a printable guide with all your transportation information?

Currently, we have an individual transportation post for each theme park ( Magic Kingdom , EPCOT , Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios ) in addition to this main overall Disney World transportation guide — but keep hopping back! We may just have something in the works :)

very useful info. I have a few other questions for clarification. we have a party of four and if our hotel is off WDW and in the Disney spring area, a. can we also take the Disney transportation for free? b. how to transfer buses from Disney spring to other theme parks? how long does it take? c. comparing with b, is it much more convenient to rent a car and park at each theme park? I heard the stand park parking also needs to take some other transportation to the actual park. not sure how big of a difference. Thank you!

Disney transportation is free and available to everyone, not just hotel guests! That means you can utilize the many buses, monorails, boats and Skyliner Disney World has to offer. There is no direct route from Disney Springs to the theme parks, so you would need to take a bus to the closest resort and then hop on a bus to the park. Travel time varies, but we find most direct routes take about 15-20 minutes, plus any time waiting for the bus. So you’ll want to allow even more time if indirectly transferring from Disney Springs to the theme parks. Rental cars are always a great option, as parking is available at the four theme parks (Note there is a daily parking fee of about $25). All parking lots are right near the entrance, except for Magic Kingdom Park. There, you’ll park and head to the Transportation and Ticket Center, where you’ll then take the ferry or monorail over to the magic Kingdom entrance. Be sure to check out our discounted car rental rates ! Have a great trip!

we will be in Animal Kingdom and then have to get to wilderness lodge to have dinner at story book dining at artist point. what is the easiest means to get there and then back to our resort POP after wilderness thanks!

The most straightforward way to get from Animal Kingdom to Wilderness Lodge is by bus — or you could splurge and take a Minnie Van or use another ride-sharing app if you're in a hurry or don't want to wait for bus.

There isn't direct transportation service between resorts, so in order to get back to Pop Century, the easiest way would be to take the bus to Disney Springs and transfer to the bus that goes to Pop Century. Again, you may want to opt for a Minnie Van or a ride-sharing app for direct service.

Large family of 9 visiting in June staying off site at Bonnet Creek. What would you suggest the best way to navigate through Disney World? Shuttle buses, rental car or Uber/Lyft? Any input is greatly appreciated.

We'd suggest sticking with the provided shuttles due to the large size of your group. (Otherwise, you may have limited options or you'd need to rent two cars/take two Ubers.) It appears that the shuttles run frequently (at least once every 1-2 hours, and during peak times, every half hour).

If I am staying off the WDW property, is there a general parking lot that has access to the park buses? Thanks in advance.

If you are trying to avoid a parking fee entirely, then no, there isn't an option available, unfortunately. If you don’t mind paying, the Ticket and Transportation Center would be a good hub for Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, and then you could easily get to Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom from any of the parks. Disney Springs also offers free parking but no direct line to the theme parks, so you would have to hop on a bus to a resort and then transfer to a park bus. Our recommendation would be to spring for parking and keep your receipt, as parking is valid at any of the parks that day :) Hope this helps!

If I have a breakfast reservation at a resort can I park there and after breakfast use the resort transportation to the park?

You sure can.

I will be coming next week renting a car. I’ll be staying at a resort outside of WDW. What is the actual cost for parking at the magic kingdom and other three parks? i’ll be purchasing a three day park pass, is parking included with the pass? thanks for your prompt reply

General parking at all of the theme parks costs $25 per day (and is not included with your park tickets). If you're park hopping, keep the receipt, as it is good for the entire day. For example, if you park at Magic Kingdom in the morning and want to drive over to EPCOT later that same day, you would not have to pay the $25 fee again (you'll just need to provide your receipt). Hope this helps, and have fun!

How many times can we park in different parks in one day with one parking pass?

You can hop to as many parks as you want in one day. The parking fee covers the entire day, no matter how many times you hop to another park.

So much has changed at WDW since our last visit -- even without factoring in Covid! Great job on the transportation update and explanation, Frogs! By the time our 2022 trip comes around, I'll be totally (toadally?) up to date on all the changes! Thanks!

Thank you so much, Kristin! :) We keep these up-to-date, so be sure to hop back before your trip!

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How to Get from Orlando Airport to Disney World [2024]

With Disney’s Magical Express service ending, guests are left on their own to figure out how to get from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Walt Disney World. In this post, we’ll discuss some of the options, comparing them by price, convenience, and complexity along the way. Read on to learn how to get from Orlando airport to Disney World!

how to travel disney world

Summary of Options

While this post is going to go into some detail, I’m sure many of you want to just get to the point. Here’s a quick summary of the ways to get from MCO to Disney World, beginning with our pick.

Uber / Lyft. Our preferred way to get from Orlando airport to Disney World is Uber. While prices can surge and not everyone is comfortable with rideshare, we’ve made this trip probably a dozen times and used Uber overall probably over 100 times. The balance of convenience and typical price can’t be beat in our mind. Read more about Uber at Disney World.

Shuttle Bus Services. Mears Connect and Sunshine Flyer have merged into “Mears Connect Driven by Sunshine.” This option can be cheaper than Uber (depending on the size of your party) and you might be more comfortable with it. But it’s less convenient, and once you get to three or more riders, the price will start to be comparable to Uber.

Private Car Service. Private car services are more convenient and more expensive than Uber, but good for guests who are unfamiliar with rideshare or have unique needs (like infant car seats).

Rental Car. If your trip as a whole requires a rental car, then this option makes sense. But if you’re just unsure about how to make the journey between the airport and your hotel, this isn’t going to be a good option. Read more about driving and parking at Disney World.

Taxi Cab. I haven’t taken a traditional cab in the United States in years, and at this point I’m less comfortable in a traditional cab than an Uber. That said, if you’re a fan of cabs, you can find them at MCO and if you get in a licensed cab (yes, I’ve frequently seen unlicensed cabs soliciting rides) you should pay the metered fare.

Minnie Vans. Minnie Vans are again available for service to/from Orlando International Airport for Club Level guests only . The one-way price is $199. Generally we won’t recommend this service, but the inclusion of two car seats could make it a good option for some guests. (Note: I’ve been told some guests who aren’t Club Level have had success booking Minnie Vans for the airport via Signature Services .)

Now let’s talk in more detail about the options. I’m going to start with the new shuttle services since they’re the new kids on the block and I assume most readers have a basic familiarity with Uber (but if not, we cover that next).

how to travel disney world

Shuttle Bus Services

Back in my day, Disney and Mears had a shuttle bus partnership called “Disney’s Magical Express” that was a great way to get from Orlando International Airport. Then 2020 happened and this, like everything else, went to…well you get the point.

With Disney’s Magical Express gone, two major services sprung up offering shuttle bus (or occasionally shuttle van) service between MCO and Disney World—Mears Connect and Sunshine Flyer. Beginning August 1, 2023, Sunshine Flyer and Mears Connect merged into one service, “Mears Connect Driven by Sunshine.” For simplicity, I’m going to stick to calling the new service “Mears Connect,” an appropriate shorthand, in my opinion.

We’ve used Mears Connect once (briefly discussed below), but we’re not going to go into full review detail. If you want to read more specifics—which you should if you’re considering these—I recommend using Google to find reviews written by people who have ridden the buses .

Let’s talk about some incontrovertible factors—pricing and convenience.

For starters, these services are only going to be an option if you’re going to Disney hotels or select other hotels. While the other options on this list can get you to any hotel in the area, the shuttle buses only serve specific hotels.

Mears Connect offers two levels of service. Standard is a shared service that makes multiple stops and may have a moderate wait. Express is a shared service that makes one stop (your hotel) and should have basically no wait.

You can view the pricing for Mears Connect here . You should expect to pay around $20 per adult per way and around $14 per child per way. During their “Summer Sale,” like the “Spring Sale” before it, the prices dropped to around $15 and $12. For Express service, rates are around $250 round trip up to four passengers (no one way), and $55 for each additional passenger.

This means two adults are priced around the same cost as an Uber, while the addition of a child means you’ll probably be spending more than an Uber if surge pricing isn’t active.

The Express pricing is comparable to a private car service, though if you’re more comfortable working with a well-established, proven reliable shuttle operator (Mears operated the old Magical Express system) I could see some reason for taking this option.

We’ve taken Mears Connect once, prior to the merger, and won’t be doing it again. From check-in, we were put on a bus and waited 15 minutes for it to depart (a reasonable time). But then we were scheduled to be the sixth stop. After an hour on the bus, we got out at the fifth stop (which happened to be walkable to our hotel). I’m getting older and travel with a toddler now—I just can’t do an hour on a bus after already spending a few hours on a plane.

While I’d consider the express service when traveling with Zoe (they offer car seats and I’ve had trouble getting Uber Car Seat recently), the bus services in general don’t seem like a good option to me. The old Sunshine Flyer website had a blurb in their FAQ that got to the heart of the matter:

When the guest enters the Sunshine Flyer staging area, the guest will not wait more than 20 minutes to board the bus. Upon departure, trips are designed so that the last stop will not take more than 65 minutes.

While I can’t find a similar blurb in the new, combined site, I’d expect the numbers to be basically the same with any shuttle bus operator. This means a journey of up to 85 minutes from your arrival at the staging area. If I open Uber right now (you can do this on your own, too), the estimated pickup for Uber X at MCO is 4 minutes with a 29 minute trip to Polynesian Village (random example), priced at $40.25.

All this said, while I think the balance of price and convenience favors rideshare, I don’t think these shuttle services are a bad option. Certainly having a reasonably priced and comfortable option booked ahead of time has value to many guests, and in that regard the shuttle services have an advantage on the other options in this list.

Uber / Lyft from Orlando Airport to Disney World

Our preferred way to get from Orlando International Airport to Walt Disney World (and Universal Orlando Resort , for that matter) is to use Uber. Lyft is an alternative service, and while we don’t use it as much basically everything we say here applies to Lyft, too.

We have a Complete Guide to Using Uber at Walt Disney World , but for the purpose of this post all you need to know are the basics.

Once you download and setup the Uber app and you’re at the airport, you can open the app and enter your destination. If you’re not at the airport (or wherever you’re getting picked up from) you can modify the pickup spot if, for example, you want to see sample prices.

The app will tell you how much the various services will cost to get you to your destination (the basic option is Uber X), along with estimated pickup and drop-off times. You can following signs at MCO for ground transportation, rideshare services.

Overall, Uber is quite convenient—pickups usually only take a few minutes (except during late night hours), and you’re driven directly to your resort. If you have a room assignment when you arrive, you could even have the driver drop you off close to your room.

If you’ve never used Uber you might be uncomfortable with the idea of hiring a stranger outside of the traditional cab / private car ecosystem. We can’t say much for that except that we’ve used Uber probably around a hundred times in various countries with no notable issues.

(FWIW Emily and I both use Uber as a solo travelers on occasion, too, but we acknowledge why some solo travelers might not like this option. Indeed, for solo travelers the shuttle buses are probably more cost effective, too.)

Assuming you’re comfortable with the service generally, there are two big downsides family travelers need to know about when using Uber to get from Orlando International Airport to Disney World.

The first is cost. While a typical price from an Uber from MCO to Disney World is around $40 (before tip), the cost isn’t fixed. If you arrive at a peak time (remember when you’d see those unbelievably long lines for Magical Express?) you might see a surge up to $60, $75, or in the rarest of cases even $100.

Generally, this is a risk I’m willing to take. If the price were $100 I’d maybe swing by some of the shuttle bus desks (like Mears Connect) and see if those were an option. Or maybe I’d try and take a taxi.

(Note: You can schedule an Uber ride ahead of time, but with flight delays and such you risk missing your arrival time and still being on the hook for the ride.)

The second downside for some families is the car seat situation. You can pay extra (and often wait longer) to book an Uber with a car seat, but these seats are simple booster-style seats only fit for kids above the age of 2 (and other size restrictions you should confirm before booking), and Uber vehicles only have one car seat. (Note: I’ve had a lot of trouble getting Uber Car Seat bookings recently. I’ve been lucky to easily get more expensive Uber XL Car Seat bookings, but I am worried this option is becoming more limited.)

If you have a child under 2, or if you have multiple children in need of car seats, you’ll either have to bring your own car seat or use a different option.

When Zoe was under 2, we eventually came to the feeling that bringing a car seat was the way to go, even if Zoe was flying as a lap infant without a seat. In that case, we could just check the seat at the gate and it would be on the jet bridge when we deplaned. It’s a little annoying to carry it through the airport, but overall this worked best for us in part because it allowed us to just hop in an Uber at the airport.

how to travel disney world

Private Car Service from Orlando Airport to Disney World

If the convenience of Uber speaks to you but some variable pricing and stranger danger get to you, you might book a private car service. Yes, these are still strangers, but I assume some fears are assuaged by booking through an established business rather than a person-to-person service like Uber.

Private car drivers will meet you at a designated location (usually with a sign with your name on it) when your flight arrives. They’ll often be able to accommodate car seat requests, including infant car seats, which is a step up from Uber.

The downside is price. You’ll be paying $75 to $150 one way for this level of service.

We’ve used private car services a few times, particularly when we were flying without a car seat and Zoe was too small for Uber Car Seat.

WDW Prep School recommends Quicksilver, and I trust them on all matters WDW .

Some other popular services include (we can’t vouch personally for these):

Tiffany Towncar

Renting a Car at Orlando Airport

Simply put, your decision to rent a car at Walt Disney World should not be largely dictated by the need to get between the airport and your hotel. If that’s all you really need, any other option here is better.

If you’re staying off-site, wanting to visit Universal Orlando Resort, or have some other compelling reason, renting a car might make sense. Read our Guide to Driving and Parking at Disney World to sure you understand what you expect to pay in parking and when driving might not be the best option even if you’ve rented a car.

Taking a Taxi from Orlando Airport to Disney World

As mentioned in the summary, I haven’t taken a traditional taxi in the United States in years. Since the fare is metered you won’t have to worry about surge pricing, but you should expect the ride to cost $60 to $80 without tip.

The Orlando International Airport website has all the information you need on taking a taxi , here are some highlights:

Taxis are at Terminal A on the Ground Transportation Curb (Level 1) in spaces A22-A25

Taxis are at Terminal B on the Ground Transportation Curb (Level 1) in spaces B30-B34

Taxis are at Terminal C on the Arrivals Curb (Level 6)

All taxicabs picking up at the Airport are regulated by the City of Orlando’s Vehicle-for-Hire ordinance which requires fares to be determined by a taximeter. Flat rate fees are not authorized. Therefore metered rate may vary from the approximate rates quoted above.

I have seen unlicensed cabs soliciting rides around MCO. Mears is the most popular taxi company in Orlando and the one I’d go to if I were taking a taxi.

All Your Other Disney World Planning Questions Answered

Don't be overwhelmed by Disney World planning! Take a second to check out our most important content and you'll not only be an expert, but you'll save big $$$ along the way.

Just starting out? Check out our Walt Disney World planning guide! If you're still picking dates, we've got everything you need to know about Disney World crowd calendars . For picking your hotel, check out our Walt Disney World hotels guide.

When it comes time to book we’ll help you find discount Disney World tickets . Decide whether you need a dining plan in our Complete Guide to Disney World Dining Plans ! And don't forget to book those Disney World Advance Dining Reservations !

Don't forget to master your Disney World Genie+ and Lightning Lane strategy a few months in advance. We'll keep you out of long lines so you can maximize the magical time in the parks! We've got park-specific guides as well: Magic Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes , Epcot Genie+ and Lightning Lanes , Animal Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes , and Hollywood Studios Genie+ and Lightning Lanes .

Know what to ride with our guides to: Magic Kingdom rides , Hollywood Studios rides , Epcot rides , and Animal Kingdom rides ! Plus learn about the water parks with our guide to Blizzard Beach and our guide to Typhoon Lagoon ! And for some some fun prep, check out our Ranking of Every Ride at Walt Disney World .

Finally, before you head out, be sure to check out our to-the-point packing list, 10 essentials you forget to pack for every Disney trip . And if you're interested in saving, there's no better list than our 53 Ways to Save on your Disney trip from start to finish .

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how to travel disney world

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I'm a travel planner who's been to Disney World over 40 times. Here are 13 things I always do at the parks.

I grew up going to Disney parks every year , and now I help plan vacations there for a living.

I love the Carousel of Progress, Big Thunder Mountain, and Expedition Everest attractions.

I always recommend scheduling a rest day and taking time to admire the details on Main Street.

I grew up going to Disney almost every year, and now that I am a parent, I've passed that tradition on to my children.

I loved organizing Disney vacations so much that I even became a travel planner at Marvelous Mouse Travels , specializing in Disney destinations.

There's always something new to see at Disney , but part of the joy in going each year is checking my favorite traditions off my list.

Here are 13 experiences I never miss at Disney World.

I love riding back in time on the Carousel of Progress

Some might call the Carousel of Progress a "dated" attraction, and I get it. It was built by the original Disney Imagineers for the 1964 World's Fair , and at first glance, it might feel antiquated.

Take a closer look, though, and you'll discover the charm and ingenuity of the classic show. I challenge you to exit the building without singing the attraction's catchy theme song.

Plus, there's hardly ever a line, and it can be a great air-conditioned respite on a hot Florida day.

Dole Whip is an iconic Disney snack for a reason

One of the toughest decisions every trip is deciding which Dole Whip flavor to try.

The classic pineapple flavor is one of my top picks, but I also love the raspberry swirl and coconut.  If I'm really feeling wild, I go for the pineapple float, which combines Dole Whip with pineapple juice.

I make time to enjoy a regal breakfast at the Grand Floridian Cafe

The Grand Floridian Cafe's breakfast is an absolute delight.

The tables are set with beautiful dishes, the warm biscuits and butter are served upon arrival, and the eggs benedict and hash-brown casserole are what dreams are made of.

Snag a seat by the window and enjoy the beautiful grounds of the Grand Floridian Resort while you savor your meal.

The 'Finding Nemo' show has some of the most talented performers on property

It might be partly because of my musical-theater background, but when it's running, I think "Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond" is a must-see every time we go to Animal Kingdom.

The music and performances are breathtaking. I never leave the theater with a dry eye.

And for all the parents, my kids are so drawn in by the storytelling that they don't make a sound or move an inch for 45 minutes, which is a total win.

Expedition Everest is my favorite ride on the property

I can't get enough of Expedition Everest , from the theming in the line to the exhilarating ride up the mountain.

The last time we were at Animal Kingdom, we rode it seven times in a row.

The backward part still gets me every time. For someone who likes pretty tame coasters, this one gives me a thrill.

We always make a point to properly experience Magic Kingdom at night

There's something electric about Magic Kingdom after dark. It comes alive with a unique energy when the sun goes down and the park lights up.

Before snagging a spot for the fireworks, we stroll through each land to see how it transforms at night.

One of my family's traditions is to end the night with a ride on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. You can see the whole park lit up from the very top, and it's pure magic.

The Garden Grill is an underrated spot to savor a good meal

The Garden Grill is a nostalgic pick — I remember eating here with my family as a child — but it still hits all the right notes for me.

I love the old-school Epcot feel of the Land Pavilion, and the rotating restaurant gives you views of the classic Living With the Land attraction below. Inside, there are stellar character experiences and absolutely delicious food to be found.

I also enjoy that some of the food is sourced from the greenhouses on the property.

No Disney trip is complete without a ride on the iconic monorail

Even if we're not staying at one of the hotels on the monorail path, I still have to find a time to take a lap on the elevated train.

It's such a nostalgic part of Disney for me, and my boys love to ride it as much as I do. Even though they're older now, there's still wonder in their eyes when we pass through the middle of the Contemporary Resort.

We usually stop at each of the hotels for some shopping or food and dream about where we want to stay on our next trip.

You're missing out if you're not hitting up Tower of Terror and Haunted Mansion after dark

Tower of Terror and Haunted Mansion are two of my all-time favorite rides.

Although you can certainly check them off your list during the day, there's nothing like riding them at night. I believe it's how they were intended to be experienced.

Waiting in the queue in the dark and listening to the creepy music and sounds sets the stage for spooky enjoyment.

I always schedule a rest day so I can relax by the pool

You don't have to open and close down the parks every day of your vacation. Take a day to enjoy your hotel and relax by the pool.

The Disney resorts have some great pools including Stormalong Bay at the Yacht Club, which is my family's absolute favorite.

Enjoy a drink poolside, grab some snacks or a meal, and bask in the Florida sun.

I think the Memory Maker package is totally worth it for families

We get the Memory Maker photo package every trip. Some people don't think it's worth the money , but the key to making it work for you is seeking out the photographers at the parks.

There are so many great shots to get, and it only takes a few minutes at each stop.

Don't forget to ask the photographer if they have any magic shots available — you might be surprised to see a few beloved Disney characters photobombing your picture.

We often leave with 200 to 300 pictures, and our whole family is in each one, which is totally priceless.

There's so much to see up and down Main Street USA

As I've gotten older, I've realized that so much of Disney is in the details.

Don't get me wrong, I love the rides and shows, but taking your time to stroll down Main Street in Magic Kingdom is not to be missed.

Walking in and out of the stores to check out the newest merchandise or grabbing a snack is a nice break, but looking at all of the details in the storefronts is just awe-inspiring. I find something new every time I go.

We also take our time strolling around Epcot's World Showcase

We usually dedicate a whole day — or at the very least an evening — to the World Showcase at Epcot .

We walk from country to country checking out the different shops, food, and entertainment experiences in the 11 pavilions.

Instead of making sit-down reservations on these days, we try as many snacks and drinks as possible from the different countries.

This story was originally published in August 2021 and most recently updated on February 28, 2024.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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Everything You Need to Know About Disney World’s Newest Rules, Effective for All Guests

in Updates , Walt Disney World

Disney's Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort

Walt Disney World Resort implemented some major changes for guests heading to the theme parks in 2024.

Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park welcome millions of guests ever year, and no matter when you go, there is always something special happening at “The Most Magical Place on Earth.”

Cinderella Castle

Of course, the biggest new attraction set to open in Walt Disney World Resort this year is Tiana’s Bayou Adventure . The new Princess and the Frog -themed attraction, which is set to open in summer of 2024 is taking over the spot that used to be occupied by Splash Mountain in Magic Kingdom.

Related : Disney Announces Opening Date for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

The new attraction is currently under construction, and there are rumors that it could spawn an entire new land being added, transforming the space around the attraction into New Orleans Square . Of course, that is just speculation, and nothing has been confirmed.

What can be confirmed, however, is some major rule changes that are coming to the Disney World theme parks, which will be in effect for all guests.

Mickey at Disney World in front of Cinderella Castle

If you’re planning a visit to Disney World this upcoming year, here are some new rule changes that you should be aware of.

All-Day Park-Hopping

In a magical turn of events, Disney park lovers received exciting news last October when the announcement came that all-day park hopping would be returning to Walt Disney World. This change marked a significant shift in how visitors can experience the enchantment of the Disney theme parks.

For quite some time, park hopping at Disney World was limited to after 2 p.m. each day, a restriction that was put in place when park hopping returned in 2021 . However, as of January 9, 2024, anyone with a park ticket featuring Park Hopper capabilities or an Annual Pass has the incredible freedom to visit another theme park at any time during regular park hours. This change offers visitors a more flexible and value-packed park experience.

Depending on the time of year you visit, the Park-Hopping feature added to a normal Disney park ticket is, on average, around $60 per person per day.

Guests entering Disney's Hollywood Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World Resort

Disney Park Reservations

One of the most significant adjustments to the Disney World experience is the elimination of Park Pass reservations for most guests. This change, which took effect on January 9, is redefining how visitors plan their Disney adventures.

Until recently, guests were required to make reservations for the specific theme park they wished to visit each day, in addition to purchasing their tickets. This system was implemented as a response to the challenges posed by the pandemic, helping Disney World manage crowd levels and staffing effectively.

However, with the new policy , those who purchase date-based tickets no longer need to secure a reservation. This newfound flexibility means that visitors can decide which Disney World park to explore on the spur of the moment, enhancing the sense of adventure and spontaneity that Disney World offers.

A little girl looking up at Spaceship Earth inside of EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort.

While we certainly recommend planning ahead of time to get the most out of your visit, there is value in having more flexibility and not necessarily having to maintain the exact schedule that was laid out ahead of time. You may run into unexpected weather. On a day when it is rainy, you may want to change which theme park you visit to make the most of your time.

Nevertheless, it’s important to note that certain ticket types, such as Annual Passes, may still require reservations on most days to access the parks. Furthermore, Disney introduced “Good to Go” days starting on January 11. While Park Pass reservations are still necessary for Annual Passholders, these special days allow them to enter the park without the need for a reservation on select dates, adding even more convenience and freedom to their Disney experience. You can check the official Disney website to see the dates when these are available.

Keep in mind that Annual Passholders do not have to make a reservation to visit a theme park after 2:00 p.m., except when visiting Magic Kingdom on Saturday and Sunday.

Walt Disney Statue in World Celebration at EPCOT

Virtual Queues

With all-day park hopping, changes came to the Virtual Queues as well, promising a more streamlined and accessible experience for visitors.

As of January 9, guests who do not require a Park Pass reservation to enter the park no longer need one to secure a Virtual Queue booking at 7 a.m. Currently, Disney World offers Virtual Queues for two popular rides: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and TRON Lightcycle / Run . These Virtual Queue reservations are available at two specific times each day, 7 a.m. and 1 p.m.. Previously, to secure a 7 a.m. Virtual Queue reservation, visitors needed a Park Pass reservation for the corresponding park.

Tron Lightcycle / Run Ride at Magic Kingdom

With the recent rule change, guests holding date-based tickets now have the freedom to book a Virtual Queue without the need for a park-specific reservation. It’s important to note that only one Virtual Queue reservation can be held at a time, forcing visitors to choose between Guardians of the Galaxy or TRON for their 7 a.m. slot.

In addition to securing a spot in the Virtual Queue, you can also purchase Individual Lightning Lane reservations for TRON Lightcycle / Run and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. The prices for these vary by the day and are not included in a Disney Genie+ purchase, but they can save you a lot of time as you will not have to stand in the regular Virtual Queue line, which can be more than an hour, depending on the day.

A group of young adults pose in front of the entrance to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT during an After Hours event

Disney Dining Plans Are Returning

Another exciting development was the return of Disney Dining Plans . This popular feature had been missed by many Disney enthusiasts and adds an extra layer of convenience and savings to the Disney experience.

The Disney Dining Plan allows guests to prepay for meals and snacks as part of their vacation package, offering flexibility in choosing when and where to enjoy their dining credits. The number of credits received depends on the duration of the stay.

There are two Dining Plan options : The Quick Service Dining Plan and the Disney Dining Plan. The Quick Service Dining Plan, priced at $57.00 for adults and $24.00 for children ages 3 to 9, includes two quick-service meals per night stayed, a nightly snack or nonalcoholic drink, and a refillable drink mug for unlimited refills at the resort.

A family enjoys a meal at Boma at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, taken from the Disney Dining Plan official information page.

The Disney Dining Plan, priced at $94 for adults and $30 for children ages 3 to 9, offers one table-service meal per night stayed, one quick-service meal per night stayed, a nightly snack or nonalcoholic drink, and a refillable drink mug with unlimited refills at the resort.

With the return of Disney Dining Plans, guests can enjoy a hassle-free dining experience, knowing that their meals and snacks are already paid for as part of their package. However, whether it saves you money depends on your dining preferences and the number of meals you plan to enjoy during your stay.

Important Information from Disney about the Disney Dining Plan:

  • Beverages are included with each meal. Guests under 21 years of age may choose from a variety of nonalcoholic beverages. Guests 21 and older with valid identification may substitute for beer, wine, and cocktails.
  • Reservations at Table-Service restaurants are highly recommended and are subject to availability.
  • Guests ages 3 to 9 must order from a children’s menu, where available.
  • Plan must be purchased for the entire length of stay and for the entire party (ages 3 and up).
  • Meals are nontransferable between party members and expire at midnight on day of checkout.

Roundup Rodeo BBQ at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Specific number of meals and snacks are determined by the number of nights included in the package stay . You can redeem your meals and snacks any day during your stay until the number associated with your package has been depleted. All unused meals and snacks and the ability to use your refillable mug expire at midnight on your package reservation checkout date.

Resort-refillable mugs are eligible for refills from self-service beverage islands at any Disney Resort hotel Quick-Service location.

Price Increases

While Disney World brought back some beloved features and made the park experience more flexible, several price increases were also implemented. These adjustments in pricing were part of Disney’s ongoing efforts to maintain the quality of the guest experience and invest in new attractions and entertainment.

One of the most notable price increases was related to parking at Disney’s four theme parks. Standard parking at these parks are increasing from $25.00 to $30.00. While price hikes are never easy to accept, this increase brings Disney’s parking fees in line with those at other Orlando-area theme parks like Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando.

Parking Lot at Disney World Feature Image

However, guests staying at any Disney Resort hotel will continue to enjoy complimentary parking at both their hotel and Disney’s theme parks. For those not staying onsite, a single parking payment grants access to multiple parks on the same day.

Additionally, Annual Pass Holders saw price increases for new sales and renewals across all pass tiers. These changes included:

  • Disney Incredi-Pass: Increased from $1,399 to $1,499
  • Disney Sorcerer Pass: Increased from $969 to $999
  • Disney Pirate Pass: Increased from $749 to $799
  • Disney Pixie Dust Pass: Increased from $399 to $439

These price adjustments reflect Disney’s commitment to providing a wide range of pricing options to cater to various guest preferences and offer unique experiences.

disney world annual pass

All passes exclude activities/events separately priced. Pass types, entitlements and prices subject to change without notice. Passes are nontransferable and nonrefundable. Disney reserves the right to reschedule or cancel theme park reservations, admission media or purchases at any time and for any reason without liability, and to provide applicable refunds. Theme park reservations are subject to availability and are not guaranteed for any specific dates or park.

Passes with the Water Park and Sports option provide admission to Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park OR Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park. Water parks are subject to extended rehabilitation, seasonal, capacity and weather closures or may close for other reasons. On certain dates a water park may only be open for special events or to limited groups. All options are nontransferable and exclude activities/events separately priced or not open to the general public.

Disney's Contemporary Resort at night with a monorail running through the lobby

Overall, 2024 is already shaping up to be an exciting time for Disney World visitors, with the return of all-day park hopping, the elimination of Park Pass reservations for many guests, more accessible Virtual Queues, and the revival of Disney Dining Plans. While these changes enhance the park experience, it’s essential to be aware of price increases that are also part of the evolving Disney landscape.

What do you think of the recent changes to Walt Disney World? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments!

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How to Go to Disney World for Cheap

Carissa Rawson

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Ever tried to plan a trip to Walt Disney World? The sticker shock is real. Theme park tickets, meals, hotels and transportation all add up to a vacation cost that may take you years to save up for.

But it doesn’t have to. Here’s how to go to Disney World for cheap.

Flights to Disney World

Plenty of people choose to make a road trip out of their vacations, but if you’re a fair distance away from Orlando, Florida, you may be wondering: Is it cheaper to fly or drive to Disney World? The answer to that question varies, but if you’re committed to flying, there are certain approaches you can take to find cheap Disney World flights.

Remain flexible. Being flexible with your dates can save you hundreds of dollars per person, as can flying from a hub rather than a regional airport.

Travel in a group. If you’re flying as a family, consider paying for Frontier Airlines’ Discount Den program. Although it’s a paid membership, it entitles you and your companions to discounted tickets. More important, it also allows children to fly for free — with a Discount Den membership, one child under 15 can fly for free with each paid adult.

Spend strategically. For maximum savings, snag a travel rewards credit card and use the points to fly at deeply discounted rates. Round-trip flight costs vary, but you can fly off-peak on most domestic U.S. airlines for under 10,000 miles each way — and oftentimes even cheaper. This includes Southwest , Alaska , United , American and Delta .

» Learn more: The cheapest ways to fly to Disney World using points and miles

Disney World tickets

Even though it’s not really possible to find cheap Disney World tickets, there are still ways you can save money.

Discount sites. Websites like Undercover Tourist sell Disney tickets at a slight discount. For example, you can save about $30 per person on a four-day park hopper ticket.

Military discounts. Active-duty and retired service members are eligible for Disney’s military salute tickets , which can cost less than half the price of a general admission ticket.

You may also want to consider visiting during non-peak times. Disney World charges a variable rate for admission based on demand, which means that traveling during a low period can save you some money. For example, a weekday in September will cost you $174 for a one-day park hopper ticket. A weekday in December, meanwhile, can cost as much as $224 for that same one-day park hopper ticket. That’s a difference of $50 per person.

Finally, if you have a credit card that allows you to redeem your points for statement credits, you can do so to offset the cost of your park tickets. Many credit cards feature this ability to some degree, but you’ll want to check the value your card issuer will give you for your points — it isn’t always worth it.

» Learn more: The best way to buy Disney tickets

Disney World hotels

Orlando is rife with hotels. From modest motels to the Waldorf Astoria, you can find every type of accommodation in the Orlando area. This can work in your favor, as you can reliably find clean and cheap Disney World hotels for under $100 per night.

Seek out special rates. If you’re looking to maximize your time at Disney World, consider staying on the property. It can be difficult to find affordable Disney World resorts, even when you’re booking the cheapest properties, but there are some ways to save money. Look for a time when Disney is offering specials on its room rates. These happen often and can feature substantial savings.

Book with points. Of course, we can’t mention discounted Disney World resorts without talking about the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin — the only two hotels on Disney property for which you can redeem points. Located right near Disney’s Boardwalk and with close access to Epcot, you can book these hotels using your Marriott Bonvoy points at a rate of 40,000 points per night during off-peak times.

If you’re using Marriott Bonvoy points, stay for five nights and pay for four by taking advantage of Marriott’s fifth night free policy on award stays.

Other tips to book a cheap Disney World trip

Beyond points and miles, there are other tried-and-true ways to lessen the financial hit of a Disney World vacation.

Enjoy your character dining off the property: Many hotels around Disney World feature character meals, in which costumed Disney characters come by and greet your family. They often pose for photographs and sign autographs. Disney also offers character breakfasts at its parks and resorts — but they’re much more expensive. Save money by indulging in this luxury at your off-the-property hotel rather than at the parks.

Consider buying an annual pass: Although Disney has temporarily stopped selling its annual passes, when it does resume sales, consider purchasing one for a member of your family. Annual passholders are entitled to additional discounts on hotels, merchandise and food. Depending on how many people are in your party and how long you’re staying, purchasing a pass can actually save you more than you spend for the pass itself.

Look into free activities. Wander Disney Springs, walk along Disney's boardwalk or visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge to view exotic animals like giraffes and zebras. There are even more free things to do around Disney World, and thoughtfully scheduling these kinds of activities can help keep your expenses in check.

» Learn more: How to plan a trip to Walt Disney World

Make your Disney vacation affordable

A vacation to Disney World can be expensive, but planning your trip with points and miles can lower the price tag. Tickets can sometimes be purchased for a discount, and you can find flights and hotels that are eligible for award redemptions in your preferred travel loyalty program .

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

1x-3x Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

30,000 Limited-time offer: Earn Companion Pass® good through 2/28/25 plus 30,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

how to travel disney world

Walt Disney World Theme Park Tickets

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Florida residents, theme park ticket.

  • Magic Kingdom park
  • Disney’s Hollywood Studios
  • Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park

Park Hopper option : Visit more than one theme park on the same day. The ability to visit a park is subject to the park's capacity limitations.

Water Park and Sports option : Visit one theme park per day, plus enjoy a certain number of visits to a water park or other Walt Disney World fun. A 2-day ticket allows two visits, a 3-day ticket allows 3 visits and a 4-day ticket allows 4 visits. For each visit, you can choose one of the following:

  • Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park (Currently Unavailable)
  • Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park
  • ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
  • Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course
  • FootGolf at Disney's Oak Trail
  • Disney’s Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course (one round; prior to 4:00 PM)
  • Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course (one round; prior to 4:00 PM)

Park Hopper Plus option : Visit more than one theme park on the same day, plus enjoy a certain number of visits to a water park or other Walt Disney World fun. A 2-day ticket allows 2 visits, a 3-day ticket allows 3 visits and a 4-day ticket allows 4 visits. The ability to visit a park is subject to the park's capacity limitations.

For each visit, you can choose one of the following:

All tickets and options are nontransferable and nonrefundable and exclude activities/events separately priced or not open to the general public. Parks, attractions and other offerings subject to availability, closures and change or cancellation without notice or liability. Water parks are subject to extended rehabilitation, seasonal, capacity and weather closures or may close for other reasons. On certain dates a water park may only be open for special events or to limited groups. Tee times are required for Disney's Oak Trail Golf Course and are subject to availability. FootGolf is available every Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday during select afternoon hours, subject to availability. Miniature golf valid for one round. Round must start prior to 4:00 PM. Only one miniature golf visit per day. ESPN Wide World of Sports admission valid only on event days; some events require an additional admission charge; there are no events on certain days; days and hours of operation of concessions, venues and attractions vary. Visit espnwwos.com for more information.

1 to 10-day standard date-based ticket

  • Date-based ticket that requires you to choose a start date.

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1-day ticket (Ages 10+) from:

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how to travel disney world

Disney World raising cheapest ticket price for first time since 2018

The lowest-priced ticket will increase from $109 to $119 next year.

how to travel disney world

The bargain-basement price for a Walt Disney World ticket is going up next year.

More than five years after last raising the price of the least expensive ticket, the Florida theme park complex will charge $119 for the cheapest one-day, one-park entry. That’s up from $109 before tax, which has been the price since late 2018. Disney has touted this price as its cheapest ticket for years.

The new prices were revealed when Walt Disney World opened ticket sales through October 2025 on Tuesday. They don’t go into effect until 2025; this year’s prices had already been announced and won’t change.

Those lowest prices are for the least-in-demand park, Animal Kingdom. More popular options such as Hollywood Studios, Epcot and Magic Kingdom cost more — and prices for those parks on the cheapest days will be higher next year as well. Magic Kingdom reaches its peak of $189 on multiple days in late winter and spring next year, a review of the new prices shows. November and December tickets — typically the busiest and costliest time of year — are not yet for sale for 2025.

As the company points out on its website, the cheapest times to go are late August and September.

On Monday, Disney sought to sweeten the deal for people who stay at its on-site hotels next year, announcing that guests can get free entry to one of the resort’s two water parks on check-in day.

Fans have complained that the cost of a Disney vacation has increased in recent years, in large part driven by a new paid line-cutting service that replaced a free version. Hotel guests also mourn the loss of free bus transportation from Orlando’s airport.

Disney’s biggest competitor in Florida, Universal Orlando Resort, charges $119 for its cheapest tickets. Universal is preparing to open a major new theme park, Epic Universe , next year at its complex that already includes two theme parks and a water park.

Dennis Speigel, president of consulting firm International Theme Park Services , said he believes Disney announced pricing increases for next year far in advance to get ahead of Universal’s new park opening.

“I think it makes it more palatable, starting it now and letting people kind of digest it slowly,” he said.

Robert Niles, editor of Theme Park Insider , said in an email that the price increase didn’t surprise him. He noted that the Florida parks have seen a recent attendance drop.

“But Disney seems to believe in the enduring appeal of Walt Disney World and is pricing with the belief that any dips in attendance are temporary and can be dealt with using limited-time promotions,” he said. “Ultimately, fans look at the total price of a Disney vacation — as best they can estimate it — and a change in prices for one-day tickets that almost no one buys won’t deter anyone.”

More about Disney

Outsiders banned: Disney theme park trips cost a lot — more every year — and take heaps of planning to pull off. But the company has recently banned some independent tour guides from helping visitors navigate the parks, citing “unauthorized commercial activities.”

Next-level fandom: For some Disney fans, donning a pair of Mickey ears isn’t enough. In a practice called “ Disneybounding ,” they create entire character-inspired outfits that don’t run afoul of rules that ban costumes for adults. Disney food fans had a reason to celebrate when a beloved snack, Dole Whip , came to grocery stores. How does it stack up to the parks version?

Political crossfire: The most magical place on earth has gotten political , thanks to a battle with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). While several observers have suggested Disney World move out of the Sunshine State, experts say it’s a goofy proposition. Fan sites have been forced to add coverage of lawsuits to their standard lineup about rides, churros and characters.

how to travel disney world

Price hike: Your next trip to Disney World could cost more, depending on when you visit

how to travel disney world

Visiting Walt Disney World could cost you more next year.

The Florida resort opened up vacation booking Tuesday for most of 2025, and its extended calendar showed a jump in the starting price of next year’s theme park tickets.

For 2025, the cheapest one-day, one-park tickets cost $119 for guests over age 9. 

That’s up from this year’s starting price of $109 for select dates at Disney’s Animal Kingdom , but on par with current ticket prices at Universal Orlando Resort .

Disney World hadn’t changed base prices since Dec. 2022, when the resort introduced park-specific pricing , but not all tickets will be impacted.

The most expensive one-day, one-park tickets remain $189, at least through Oct. 2025. Holiday season prices are not yet available.

How to save on Disney tickets

Ticket prices for 2024 visits remain unchanged, so travelers on the fence about dates may save money by visiting this year instead of next.

Discounted vacation packages or multi-day tickets may be available through third parties like Costco, AAA or Undercover Tourist, with varying terms and conditions.

Disney typically offers discounted tickets to current and retired military service members and their families.

Special pricing is often available to Florida residents .

Guests can also save money by paying for tickets with Disney gift cards purchased at a discount .

Disney freebie: Guests staying at Disney World’s resort hotels to get free water park entry

Disney World Hotel Guests Will Get Free Waterpark Tickets In 2025

It’ll cost more to visit the Happiest Place on Earth next year—but a very cool perk is making a splash with park-goers.

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At Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park, the Summit Plummet drops 12 stories in a 360-foot-long, high-speed descent. (Photo: Amy Smith)

D isney World started taking 2025 reservations on Tuesday and announced a ticket price hike for next year. But park-goers who stay at one of 31 on-site Disney hotels will get a very cool perk: complimentary waterpark admission on check-in day.

The benefit is worth at least $302 for a family of four with two young children. Currently, one-day tickets to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach waterparks start at $74 for adults and kids age 10 and up and $68 for children ages 3 to 9. Add tax on top of the $284 and the total cost tops three Benjamins.

Single-day theme park tickets at Disney World are priced on a dynamic sliding scale depending on which of the four parks you’re visiting and when. The price of the least expensive single-day, single-park ticket—Animal Kingdom park during the slowest periods—will go up by $10 in 2025, from $109 to $119. The priciest one-day ticket, Magic Kingdom during the peak holiday period around Christmas and New Year’s, will remain at $189.

While the one-day, one-park ticket is often seen as the benchmark for Disney ticket pricing, most visitors purchase multi-day hotel-and-ticket packages. The complimentary waterpark perk will be available to those who choose one of the eligible Disney Resorts Collection properties , which run the gamut from the Campsites at Fort Wilderness Lodge to the five “value” resorts all the way up to the deluxe villas at the dozen most on-site luxurious resorts.

To make the most of the waterpark perk in 2025, families should plan for an early arrival to make the most of the lazy rivers, water slides, wave pools, interactive play areas for younger kids.

Disney’s parks-and-experiences division was a major profit driver last year. According to the company’s year-end financial report for 2023, the parks business saw a 13% increase in revenue to $8.16 billion, mainly due to its locations in Asia.

Comparatively, Walt Disney World in Florida did not fare as well, with the company blaming year-over-year declines on a number of factors, including the end of its 50th anniversary celebrations, which had boosted attendance in 2022; the closing of its Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel ; and wage inflation.

But even so, when the Florida park’s 2023 numbers are compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, Disney World saw growth in revenue and operating income of over 25% and 30%, respectively.

Suzanne Rowan Kelleher

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COMMENTS

  1. How to plan a trip to Disney World in 2024

    With four theme parks, two water parks, more than 25 on-site hotels, over 200 dining locations and more attractions, experiences, shows and shops than we can list here, the best way to build a magical Disney World vacation is with planning, preparation and realistic expectations.

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    02 of 06 How to Get Around Disney by Bus BanksPhotos/Getty Images Every Disney World Resort Hotel offers free bus transportation to each of Disney World's four theme parks, both water parks, and Disney Springs, a vibrant dining and shopping district.

  14. Tickets, Annual Passes & Vacation Packages

    For assistance with your Walt Disney World vacation, including resort/package bookings and tickets, please call (407) 939-5277. For Walt Disney World dining, please book your reservation online. 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM Eastern Time. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call. Learn about Disney theme park tickets ...

  15. Disney Transportation Map [Interactive Guide to Navigate Disney]

    To use the interactive Disney World Transportation Map and Guide, simply click on the name of the Disney Resort you wish to depart from or arrive at. You will see the Disney transportation options available to you. The transportation routes are color-coded and highlighted to correspond with the information in the legend key.

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    United States (English) Parks & Tickets Places to Stay Things to Do Shop Help & Rules Cart My Disney Experience Create a Walt Disney World vacation package that includes theme park tickets, accommodations and a dining plan, with options to fit your style and budget.

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  25. Disney World raising cheapest ticket price for first time since 2018

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  26. Disney World ticket prices may cost more next year

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